#GREATERLAGOS FIESTA: Agege, Badagry, Ikorodu, Others To Host Fun Seekers As LASG Reveals Plans

AgegePulse Magazine 

Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, has unveiled plans to hold a 72-hour #Greater Lagos Fiesta - a non-stop entertainment show beginning from the 29th of December, 2023 to the early hours of 1st January, 2024.

2nd Left: Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka addressing the press

The three-day end-of-the-year event is part of activities conceived to herald the Y2024 with an anticipated number of participants of over 25,000 who will be thrilled with different types of entertainment including cultural performances, and children's corners, amongst others.

The State Commissioner for Tourism, Art and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who made this known on Friday at a news conference in Ikeja said that the Ministry will use the annual end-of-the-year event to also market its beach potential.

According to her, the grand finale which was usually held at Eko Atlantic City would now be held at Sol Beach in Iru-land as a way of exposing the State’s rich beachfront potential to fun lovers and tourists.

She added that interested participants who still want to join the countdown event at the Eko Atlantic City venue would be provided with a large viewing screen where the activities at the Sol Beach can be transmitted live, in addition to a dedicated channel on DSTV that would stream the event activities throughout the three days.

The Commissioner, alongside the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe, and Permanent Secretary Mrs. Oloruntoyin Atekoja, also assured participants of adequate security at all the designated venues of the countdown event.

She said: “We have put a lot in place for security, we are working actively with all security apparatus of the state, the Nigeria Police, DSS, Civil Defence, LASTM and Neighbourhood Watch, among other security operators in the state. 

“The Lagos Countdown 2024, #Greater Lagos Fiesta, has become an annual tradition, a celebration of music, entertainment, and the vibrant spirit of Lagos. This year, we are taking the event to a whole new level, with three days of non-stop excitement from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024.

“We are intentional in our focus of deliberately positioning Lagos State to favourably compete with developed cities of the world in terms of hosting tourism and entertainment events”, she added.

While noting that the annual fiesta has over the years proven to be a very engaging and mind-blowing event, providing fun activities and entertainment for Lagosians in their various localities across the five IBILE divisions of the state, the Commissioner maintained that the event is beyond just a musical show or fun event.

In her words: “Let me emphasise that this event is not just about the music. The end-of-the-year countdown, #Greater Lagos Fiesta, will also showcase the best of our local cuisine, arts and crafts, and traditional performances. Participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and flavours that make Lagos such a unique and vibrant city.

“The Lagos Countdown 2024 (#Greater Lagos Fiesta), will continue to serve the purpose of discovering and nurturing new talents, exposing young talented entertainers to bigger platforms while also serving as a mechanism for curbing youth restiveness that often characterises the festive period”, her words.

She affirmed that the three-day event, apart from showcasing the cultural activities and nurturing up-coming talented youngsters in the entertainment and creative industry, will also positively impact the State’s economy through massive sales of goods and services to thousands of fun and entertainment lovers throughout the event.

She listed the venues of the event to include Badagry Grammar School in Badagry, Agege Stadium, Agege, Ikorodu Town Hall Ikorodu, Sol Beach Oniru and Epe Recreational Centre, Epe.

“We have lined up an incredible array of music stars who will grace the stage and thrill all fun lovers from Badagry to Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Ikeja featuring homegrown talents to international sensations, the best of Afro Beats, Highlife, Juju and Fuji’’, the Commissioner stated.

Toke Benson-Awoyinka also revealed that interested corporate sponsors ready to collaborate with the State Government to make the event a success are welcome.

#GreaterLagosFiesta

#entertainmentandtourism 

#AGreaterLagosRising 

#LASG

Lagos Teachers Explore Badagry Tourism Potentials

AgegePulse Magazine

The Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Mrs. Titilayo Margaret Solarin has averred that those in the teaching profession deserve a step higher than their students in terms of exposure, adding that it was impossible for teachers to give what they do not have to pupils.

Solarin stated this when she led the staff of Government Junior College Agege, on a "Mid-Term Excursion/Retreat Programme" in Badagry town recently, pointing out that the choice of Badagry was because of its rich historical background and tourism potentials that serve as point of references to teachers during some of their interactions with students.

She described the idea of the retreat as a very laudable one, noting that it is important to be sensitive to the social and relaxation needs of staff in order to ensure that they continue to give their best to their students.

The Tutor-General expressed the hope that by the time the teachers return to school, they would have been better refreshed to give their best for the benefit of the students as well as the school as a whole.

Explaining that it was imperative for the teachers to keep abreast of developments around them and most importantly be familiar with some historical sites in the State, Solarin maintained that such knowledge would make teachers easily transfer their experiences of the monuments when teaching their students.

She commended the Principal of Agege Junior Government College for pioneering the initiative, describing the idea as highly remarkable and worthy of emulation by other Principals within the District and the State at large.

On her part, the Principal of Government Junior College Agege, Mrs. Bolanle Olusola Alamu, explained that the excursion and retreat were conceived as a noble idea to motivate teachers.

According to her, "we are just making efforts to key into the various creative and innovative reforms in the State's education sector, especially the call by the State Government to fashion new approaches to learning for better service delivery and results in our schools.

 "My intention for organising this retreat was to further solidify the interest and confidence of the teachers in the teaching profession so that they can continue to give their best to the service. I believe that what is good for other professionals is also ideal for teachers" she asserted.

Mrs. Alamu expressed the hope that the teachers would, henceforth, approach their jobs with much passion and vigour going forward, saying that the presence of the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of the District was a morale booster and source of encouragement to the participants.

#LASG
#ForAGreaterLagos

Customs officer kills two colleagues in Lagos

Two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service lost their lives in a tragic accident on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Saturday.

The three officials were reportedly attached to the Seme Border Command, Lagos.

While the two crushed customs officers died on the spot, the driver of the Avalon was said to be unconscious at the Intensive Care Unit of the Badagry General Hospital, where he was receiving treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, led by the Badagry unit Commander, Fatai Bakare, deposited the remains of the deceased in a morgue.

A witness said the accident was caused by a burst tyre.

He said, “The incident happened around 7.45am on Saturday at Gbaji checkpoint. The customs officers were crushed to death by a Toyota Avalon driven by another customs officer of the same command.

“His car was descending the Gbaji Bridge and heading for Seme when one of his tyres burst. He lost control, thereby sending the two officers to their death.”

The customs unit commander, Bakare, however, said the accident was caused by speeding.

He said, “The customs officers were inside their vehicle at one of the checkpoints on the Lagos-Seme Road. The driver of the Avalon was on top speed when he crashed into them. He veered off the road and rammed into them. The two customs officers died on the spot, while the man responsible for the accident is in a coma.”

The Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Seme Command, Saidu Abdulahi, confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Usman and Kabiru.

 He also confirmed that the driver of the Avalon was a customs officer and identified him as George.

 He said, “On Saturday, July 14, 2018, I received reports of an incident involving three officers of the Seme Area Command at Gbaji checkpoint. Usman and Kabiru were involved in a ghastly motor accident which resulted in their fatalities.

“The driver of the other vehicle, George, is currently on admission at a general hospital.”

Punch