The Eko Tourism Foundation (ETF) has reaffirmed its determination to position Lagos as a leading global cultural tourism destination by leveraging the state’s vast artistic, historical and creative assets to attract visitors, investment and international recognition.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Foundation and former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made this known during a visit by the Foundation to the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, on Monday.
Speaking during the visit, Mohammed described culture and heritage as the foundation of successful destination marketing, stressing that Lagos possesses all the ingredients required to become one of the world’s foremost cultural tourism capitals.
He described the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art as ‘a sanctuary of memory, identity and civilisation’ and a compelling example of the kind of cultural infrastructure needed to drive sustainable tourism, national pride and global visibility.
‘This visit is not a courtesy call. It is a statement of intent,’ he said. ‘The Eko Tourism Foundation is declaring, in the clearest possible terms, that culture is the soul of tourism. No destination can successfully market itself to the world without first understanding, preserving and celebrating what makes it unique.’
The former Minister commended the vision and contributions of renowned art collector and philanthropist Yemisi Shyllon, describing the museum as a world-class institution dedicated not only to preserving Nigerian art and heritage, but also to deploying culture as a powerful instrument for education, historical memory and social transformation.
According to him, Lagos possesses unique advantages in history, visual arts, music, fashion, cuisine, film, architecture and the broader creative economy, all of which must be strategically packaged and promoted to the global audience.
‘Our mission is bold and unapologetic: we exist to bring the world to Lagos,’ he said. ‘Not just for our beaches or business districts, not just for the energy and spectacle of Detty December, but for our history, our heritage sites, our food, our music, our film industry, our arts, our fashion and our architecture.’
Drawing comparisons with iconic tourism destinations around the world, Alhaji Mohammed noted that millions of visitors travel annually to Paris for the Louvre Museum, New York City for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Cairo for the pyramids, stressing that Lagos must cultivate similar global recognition for its own cultural landmarks and creative institutions.
He revealed that the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art has increasingly become a destination of choice for international visitors to Nigeria, reflecting the growing global appetite for Nigerian culture, heritage and creative expression.
Alhaji Mohammed also called for stronger collaboration among museums, universities, galleries, creative hubs and tourism stakeholders, stressing that successful tourism destinations thrive on the richness, authenticity and diversity of experiences available to visitors.
‘The mission of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum aligns naturally with ours,’ he said.
‘Together, institutions like this can help place Lagos firmly on the global cultural tourism map and redefine how the world experiences Nigeria.’
He thanked the leadership of Pan-Atlantic University and the management of the museum for hosting the Foundation, adding that the visit had further strengthened the Foundation’s resolve to promote Lagos as a world-class cultural and tourism destination.
‘We leave here not just inspired, but even more determined to bring the world to Lagos,’ he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman Advisory Council, YMSA, expressed readiness to collaborate with the Board of Trustees and Governing Council of ETF to achieve the objective of Bringing the World to Lagos
Other members of the Eko Tourism Foundation at the event were Chief Gabriel Idahosa, immediate past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry; Karl Hala, Group General Manager, Lagos and Abuja Continental Hotels , and Erelu Abimbola Dosunmu.
Also present were the Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Enase Okonedo; Museum Director, Jess Castellote; and Chairman of the YSMA Advisory Board, Adedotun Sulaiman; Grand Donor and Chairman of the YSMA, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, alongside other distinguished guests.