The J. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History has received international acclaim after winning the Outstanding Achievement Award for Historic Centre at the 32nd Annual Thea Awards held in Orlando, Florida, United States.
The cultural and heritage facility also recorded more than 56,000 visitors within one year, underscoring its growing status as a major tourism and cultural destination in Nigeria.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, disclosed this during the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing, commemorating the seventh year in office of the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu
She described the award as a landmark achievement for Lagos State and Nigeria’s cultural sector, saying that it is in affirmation of the huge investment committed to the Centre by the state government.
The award presented by the Themed Entertainment Association recognised the Centre’s excellence in immersive storytelling, digital innovation, and preservation of Yoruba history and traditions.
The Commissioner said the recognition has positioned Lagos on the global stage as a leader in cultural innovation and heritage tourism. According to her, the award reflects the Sanwo-Olu administration’s sustained investment in heritage infrastructure and tourism development.
The Commissioner also said that the Centre recorded over 56,000 visitors within the review period, making it one of the State’s most visited cultural destinations. She added that the State Government would continue to modernise museums and cultural institutions to attract more tourists and preserve Lagos history.