A Nigerian Music Promoter, Edi Lawani, has put forth useful tips on how the Lagos State Government can transform the state into the entertainment capital in Africa.
Speaking at the popular African Shrine during the ongoing Best of Lagos Fam Tour organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to improve local and international patronage to tourism sites in the state, Lawani said the state must clearly outline what is wants to sell to the global tourism community, how it wants to sell it and who it is selling it to.
According to him, it is high time the catch phrase “Eko for Show” becomes a reality, tourism is a major driver of entertainment business while entertainment business is the bedrock of tourism business.
READ: Africa: Lagos Commissioner for Tourism urge youths to promote, market state as a destination
He said the Lagos State Government needs to re-engineer cultural activities in the state for economic benefits if wants to make Lagos the entertainment capital.
Lawani said the state should create awareness of its numerous tourism products through educating the people, adding that it must develop the knowledge economy necessary to position people to be able to take advantage of the opportunities in it.
According to him the people of Lagos must buy-in into the DREAM making Lagos the entertainment capital and take ownership of the process.
He added that the infrastructure in the state must be enhanced through massive Public-Private Partnerships(PPP), investment noting that policies and directions for this dream must be deliberate and decentralized for ease of implementation.
He stated that Lagos should incubate the entertainment business at the grass roots level and provide incentives to help new and small businesses grow.
He said: “Local government-level engagement would be helpful and mutually-beneficial. The Government of Lagos State must have golden handshake with the core of the entertainment industry, at all levels, for critical engagement and interaction.
“The state should encourage viable and reputable brands to trade investments in entertainment development initiatives for policy-backed incentives from government. Data mining and management are mandatory, for business analytics and growth forecast and re-engineering cultural activities for economic benefits.”
