Lagos Commissioner, Toke Benson, Proffers Solutions Challenging Tourism Industry ...Holds Stakeholders' Engagement To harness Businesses in the sector

...Holds Stakeholders' Engagement To harness Business in the sector

AgegePulse Magazine 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka today organized  a stakeholders in hospitality sector to proffer solutions challenging the Tourism sector in the state.

Lagos Commissioner, Toke Benson, Proffers Solutions, Challenging Tourism Industry,

The program, Themed: Addressing Current Industry Challenges, Exploring Emerging Trends, Understanding Policy Frameworks and Unveiling Collaborative Opportunities Within The Entire Hospitality Value Chain at  Zinnia Hall, Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka said The hospitality sector plays a vital role in the economic development of Lagos State. This sector does not only provide employment to thousands but also serves as a gateway for showcasing our rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and unparalleled hospitality. 

Commissioner on Tourism, Mrs. Toke-Benson, Awoyinka

"It is my great pleasure to welcome you all to this important engagement session with tourism stakeholders in the hospitality sector and I feel honored to address you today on the critical issues, emerging trends, and opportunities within our industry.

Discussants

"We are all not unaware of the significant challenges our industry faces, from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic to evolving customer expectations and increased competition. 

Attendants

"With this gathering, we want to address these challenges head-on. We must adapt to the changing landscape by embracing new technologies and sustainable practices.

"Emerging trends in this sector such as digital transformation, eco-tourism, and personalized customer experiences are reshaping the way we operate. It is imperative that we stay ahead of these trends to remain competitive and relevant.

"In Lagos State, we are committed to creating an enabling environment for the hospitality sector to thrive. Our policy frameworks are being continually reviewed to ensure they support growth, innovation, and sustainability. We are also focused on improving infrastructure, enhancing security, and promoting Lagos as a prime tourist destination. 

We strive to make the industry, as with other climes, data driven, through the capturing of the entire hospitality sector on a database we can also share with the rest of the world.  We are digitizing our registration processes and would no longer operate manually in this capturing process. 

"You must also agree with me that data is important not only for growth and expansion but also for SECURITY of lives and property within and around your establishments. 

We seek your cooperation in this very important exercise as we strive to make it seamless as the methodology would be communicated to you accordingly. 

"The fact remains that collaboration is key to achieving our objectives. By working together, we can create a seamless and memorable experience for tourists who depend on such data in that critical decision on destination choice.

The sanctity and safety of your establishment also comes into focus, drugs, vices and environmental nuisances play a major role and such must be curbed to further make us a destination of choice and enhance Lagos as a LIVE WORK AND PLAY environment. 

"You will agree with me that this gathering is long over due considering happenings in the hospitality sector, emerging trends and the need for us to always share views on how to improve this sector and continue to operate inline with acceptable best practices

Addressing to gathering with the topic , Enhancing Compliance in the Hospitality Sector, The GM Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, Special Adviser on Transport, Hon. Shola Giwa, Chairman, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subaru, Special Adviser on Tax, Mr. AbdulKabir Ogungbo and GM LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi among others expressed feeling of making a tourism sector a collaborative opportunities within the Hospitality value chain.

They advised Lagosians To Explore Tourism and  Water Transportation as part of activities to curb traffic congestion in Lagos with the effort of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu investing hugely to ensure water transportation is safe for all.

Issues of multiple Taxation, Land Use Charge, noise pollution, illegal parking, noise pollution, and policies endangering an healthy business environment were all discussed.

In the area of Public-Private Partnership, President Hotel Owners & Managers Association of Lagos, Chief Alabi, President Restaurants Cafes, Bars and Club, Mrs. Tannaz Eterbarian, CEO, Koko Beach, Hotel & Resorts, Mr. Richard Shittu and Owner of Ile-Iya, Mr. Mustapha Olasunkanmi all discussed on strengthening a collaborative efforts towards government policies and frames works, simplicity in visa application that will harness  hospitality business a point of call for Nigerians at home and in diaspora, noting that all these were put together to  overcome the challenges, harness the opportunities, and set new benchmarks for excellence.

2019: ADP Babatunde Gbadamosi Proffers Solutions to Lagos Problems

...Holds Interactive Session With Community Media Practitioners in Lagos

...Promises To Pay N100k as Minimum Wage

AgegePulse Magazine

The governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Babatunde Gbadamosi, popularly called BOG has proffered what he called "practicable solutions" to many challenges facing Lagos and Lagosian.


Gbadamosi received a standing ovation after speaking eloquently at the just concluded Today's Community Newspaper Interactive Session for governorship aspirants and other politicians seeking elective posts in Lagos State.

Gbadamosi highlighted several challenges facing Lagosians while speaking to newsmen at the community media Parley  in Ilupeju, Lagos. He went on to proffer feasible solutions to tackle them systematically.

BOG revealed that every Lagosian faces a lot and expends too much of money on travel time because of gridlocks across the state. He mentioned key areas where Lagosians spend their hard earned money ranging from high schools fees, poor power supply which leads to incurring other expenses such as fueling and other source of alternative power supply adding that if all of these are settled by government, life will be more easier for people.

GbadamosI assured that in his first hundred days in office if elected, he would try increasing the salaries of civil servants in the state, but he did not explain how he would raise the additional fund needed to do this.

He, however, bounced back from the initial flutter, arguing that his priority will be to immediately fixed the roads and boost the infrastructural shortfall of the state by building rail lines to all the exit points of the state, opening up water transportation and the movement of containers by barges instead of contesting the roads with trailers.

The ADP candidate, who berated the ruling party in the state for lack of prudence in running the state finances, said he would bring his experience from the private sector to handle the spending of state fund.

According to him, he would be able to do this because he does not have any godfather, which was a snide remark on the candidate of the ruling APC, Mr Sanwo-Olu, who enjoys the backing of a former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, generally believed to be the de-facto political leader of the state.

Mr Gbadamosi pointed out that the state budget website no longer exists stating that the APC led government is known for being opaque rather than open. He said if elected into office, he would operate an open government.

He berated the current government for being unable to complete its light rail project in 10 years and wondered why the state was paying for it from its purse when it could have welcomed the private sector to finance the project. He also said at a cost of almost $1 billion, the light rail project was too expensive.

He said he would open up the state waterways and improve tourism as a means of growing the state's tax revenue if elected into office.


He hailed community media practitioners in the state as viable platforms through which government activities are spread to the grassroots. He promised to make community media major part of his government if elected. 

President of the Association of  Practioners of Community Media, APCOM in Lagos, Chief Dayo Akintobi during his vote of thanks, appreciated Mr.  Babatunde Gbadamosi for honoring them as special guest at the Interactive Session which  enables him to articulate his vision to Lagosians.