Lagos can compete with global tourism cities — Lai Mohammed

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Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said Lagos possesses the cultural and creative assets needed to compete with major global tourism destinations if its heritage institutions and creative industries are properly developed and promoted.

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Mohammed, who chairs the Governing Council of the Eko Tourism Foundation, spoke during a visit by the foundation to the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University.

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According to a statement issued by his media office, Mohammed said Lagos already possessed strong cultural assets capable of attracting international visitors and investment.

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“This visit is not a courtesy call. It is a statement of intent.

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“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,” he said.

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The former minister described the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art as “a sanctuary of memory, identity and civilisation,” adding that museums and cultural institutions remain central to tourism development and heritage preservation.

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Mohammed said Lagos has advantages in music, film, fashion, food, architecture and visual arts that can be expanded into a stronger tourism economy.

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“Our mission is bold and unapologetic: we exist to bring the world to Lagos.

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“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,” he said.

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Drawing comparisons with cities such as Paris, New York City and Cairo, Mohammed said globally recognised museums and cultural institutions have continued to drive tourism in major cities around the world.

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He added that the Yemisi Shyllon Museum is increasingly attracting international visitors interested in Nigerian art and culture.

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“The mission of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum aligns naturally with ours.

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“Together, institutions like this can help place Lagos firmly on the global cultural tourism map and redefine how the world experiences Nigeria,” he said.

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Mohammed called for stronger collaboration between museums, universities, galleries and tourism stakeholders to strengthen cultural tourism offerings in Lagos.

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Also speaking, Adedotun Sulaiman, chairman of the museum’s advisory council, expressed readiness to collaborate with the foundation to advance its tourism objectives.

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Those present at the meeting included Yemisi Shyllon, Enase Okonedo and Jess Castellote, alongside members of the Eko Tourism Foundation.

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Lagos has increasingly positioned its creative economy as a driver of tourism growth, with officials and industry stakeholders highlighting the state’s film, music, fashion and visual arts sectors as critical to broader economic diversification efforts.

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