IN contemporary time, tourism can be clearly defined as the new socio-economic game changer. The economic potential of tourism is remarkable, with direct and indirect impact on wealth creation. Cities like Bangkok, London, Paris, Nairobi, Dubai and New York City are top global tourists’ destinations. African countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and South Africa are vigorously tapping into the expansive global tourism market.

However, in Nigeria, tourism is still in its infancy. This is largely due to years of the oil boom and over-dependence on the revenue from the sale of crude oil as well as weak infrastructure. However, in Lagos State, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is creatively making efforts to tap into the state’s enormous tourism potential.

Since his first term in office, Sanwo-Olu has demonstrated a strong resolve to reposition the tourism and entertainment industry in the state. This is based on his conviction that, if properly structured, the sector has huge potential for wealth and job creation. This, of course, is a stark reality. In America, for instance, the entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise, creating jobs for thousands of young creative minds. Being the entertainment capital of the country, developing the sector not only holds a brighter prospect for Lagos, but the country at large.

To properly achieve this, the government has prepared a tourism master plan that will steer the state’s tourism potential. The document focuses on culture and heritage, film, art and entertainment, business tourism, nature and adventure, medical and wellness and beach and leisure.

An integral part of the government’s plan to further develop the sector is the Lagos State Creative Industry Initiative (LACI), a partnership between the government and Film Academies like Delyork Creative Academy, Temple Group-Ogidi Studio and Ebony Life Film Academy among others.

Till date, the partnership has produced over 8000 graduates with the likes of Genoveva Umeh, Moshood Fattah, Desmond Bryce, Obinna James, Promise Egwu, Peter Joshua and Hannah Sampson among others becoming the newest super stars in the sector. After the pandemic, the government supported the sector with a N1 billion naira interest free grant, which was accessed by several film producers.

The essence is to ensure that the sector remains vibrant and productive. A N200 million interest-free loan was also granted to the first batch of 50 film-maker. The government has also put structures in place to manage and creatively market some iconic tourist sites in the state. This is in addition to the completion of the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture, Onikan, Lagos as well as the commissioning of the New Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos.

Lufodo Productions, co-founded by veteran actress, Mrs. Joke Silva-Jacobs, was engaged as the concessionaire to professionally manage the Glover Hall. In order to fully leverage on the potential of the movie industry in the stare, the government, in partnership with Del-York International Group, has performed the ground breaking ceremony of the $100 million dollar Lagos Film City in Ejinrin, Epe.

The proposed 100-hectare Film City will be a total hub for movie production; it’s not just about studios. It is a testament to the government’s commitment to nurturing the arts and supporting the dreams of aspiring filmmakers, actors, and technicians. It will create numerous job opportunities, stimulate economic growth and attract investments.

It will be a hub for film production, post-production, visual effects, and all the ancillary services that support the film-making process. It is envisioned to be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, sound stages, editing suites, production offices, and everything necessary to bring the magic of the silver screen to life. It is designed to be a one-stop-hub for movie production.

In New York, the movie industry creates 185,000 jobs annually, $18.1B in wages and $81.6B in total economic output. Thus, the Lagos Film City project is part of the all-inclusive firm efforts of the government to further enhance the growth of the industry and boost local economy. Another integral part of the strategies being deployed to develop the sector is the improvement of the night economy. A 24-hour economy is one in which socioeconomic activities do not halt at night.

The hospitality and entertainment industries, in particular, thrive better in such scenarios. Presently, Lagos boasts of a relatively thriving night economy. In terms of crime management and security, night activities in Lagos have become relatively stable. As part of the government’s resolve to develop the state’s night economy potential, the 2023 ‘Greater Lagos Fiesta’, the annual event to usher in the New Year, took place simultaneously in five different locations across the state for 72 hours, from 29th of December, 2023 to the 1st January, 2024. The event, with an estimated 300,000 participants, positively impacted the state’s economy through massive sales of goods and services to thousands of fun and entertainment lovers.

One of the major takeaways of the Fiesta was its near perfect security arrangement. Cheerfully, the government is not resting on its oars as the long term plan is to create a vibrant and safer Lagos that offers something for everyone – from a street bar with live music, a mechanic service, fashion businesses, to an all-hours bookshop. In the next ten years, it is expected that the state’s economy will be transformed away from a focus on younger people and entertainment.

It is hoped that 40 per cent of people taking advantage of the improved 24/7 activities in the state will be aged over 40 and that 40 per cent of operating businesses at this time will be chiefly anchored on formal business concerns.This is why the government is encouraging a larger variety of retailers and attractions to stay open late, to broaden people’s choices of things to do at night. By 2028, the state hopes to double its 24/7 economy turnover and increase employment by 55% through the creation of several new jobs.

There is, perhaps, no better way to promote tourism than current efforts aimed at improving infrastructure across the state. Infrastructure is quite essential to the growth of tourism as any visible defect in infrastructure will surely dissuade tourists.

Hence, on-going efforts to change the face of public transportation through the provision of more jetties as well as expansion of access to waterways, construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges, construction of modern bus terminals among others are principally engendered by the need to build and sustain the needed infrastructure upon which enduring tourism pillars can stand. Lagos is not only the commercial nerve of Africa, it is the birthplace of Nollywood and the location of a majority of the cinemas in Nigeria.

Therefore, the efforts of the Sanwo-Olu administration in boosting tourism activities in the state is in the right direction. However, in order to entirely optimize the potentials of the tourism sector, it is crucial to train personnel such as tour guides to enhance their professionalism. In Israel, for instance, tour guides are so efficient, passionate and so enthusiastic that they make tourists feel immensely excited and somehow fulfilled.

Also, there is a need to produce well researched and competently produced tourists guidebooks, which prospective tourists could find handy when they plan or decide to visit. This could be made available at major international and local airports across the world as well as other channels.