… Reaffirms Lagos’ readiness to consolidate MSMEs and entertainment industry growth.
The much-anticipated maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival (LSF) was officially declared open by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in a grand opening that combined commerce, entertainment, and creativity on Monday December 23, 2024.
Held at the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena, (formerly Onikan Stadium), the Lagos Shopping Festival is a 72-hour non-stop shopping and entertainment experience, running from December 23 to 25, 2024. Modeled after world-class festivals in Istanbul and Dubai, the LSF celebrates Lagosian, Nigerian, and African culture through music, food, games, and discounted shopping.
The Lagos Shopping Festival, likened to festivals in Istanbul, Turkey and Dubai, UAE, is a festival that significantly celebrates being Lagosian, Nigerian, and African this yuletide through world class discounted shopping and entertainment experiences like music, comedy, games, and many more attractions.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in his remarks at the launch welcomes Lagosians to the history-making festival saying, “This is the first of its kind and this event is made to bring shoppers with MSMEs, with innovators, with entertainers, with the creative industry, with the food industry and everybody.”
“For the next three days, we are meant to all come together, enjoy good food, good music, sales at discounted market price, shopping at the highest level and just general entertainment with the creativity of Lagos,” Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated.
He called on everybody from everywhere in Lagos to join the fun, shopping and entertainment, “Call everybody from Iyana-Ipaja to Alimosho, call people from Agege, call them from Ebute-Meta to Shomolu, call them from Bariga from Badagry to Ikorodu, from Epe to Ibeju-Lekki, call everyone to come to the arena here at the Mobolaji Johson Center in Onikan where we’ll be doing shopping, we’ll be doing music, we’ll be doing entertainment for the next two days. This is the first of its kind”. The Lagos State Governor added.
He noted confidently that all fun-seekers, buyers and sellers are in a safe, secure, peaceful environment. According to the Governor, “I want to enjoin all of you to sit back, to relax and see another Lagos creativity. The first, and the very first Lagos Shopping Festival”.
Governor Sanwo-Olu specially appreciated the sponsors of the Lagos Shopping Festival for their unwavering support to drive the story of Lagos commerce, entertainment and creativity. “I want to thank all of our sponsors from FirstBank to Zenith Bank to Tolaram to Smirnoff Ice to Indomie Noodles to OmniBiz, to PowerOil, to minimie, and to Malta Guinness, all of them including the Lagos State Government, I want to thank you.
He further urged everybody to patronize all the small businessesand make their small-scale market work for them.
Also, commenting, the MD/ Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, the organisers of the Lagos Shopping Festival, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, buttressed the strategic significance of the festival saying, “LSF is poised to be the catalyst that will redefine the true essence of commerce, especially SME businesses, the creative ecosystem, and fun times with family, friends and loved one. LSF is sure set to open a new vista of socio-economic growth from Lagos, to Nigeria, whilst raising a unique bar in the African market.”
Fun-seekers and business enthusiasts alike enjoyed immense entertainment value through engaging activities such as dancing and singing competitions, which amplified the excitement. Winners of these competitions were rewarded with cash prizes, adding to the festive spirit. The audience was further thrilled byenergy-revving musical performances including a lively set by Ayo Maff and a soul-stirring rendition from Adekunle Gold, which brought the crowd to its feet.