By Joseph Erunke

The Eko Tourism Foundation, ETF, has launched an ambitious campaign to position Lagos as a global cultural tourism powerhouse, declaring that the state’s rich heritage, arts, music, fashion and creative economy hold the key to attracting international visitors, investment and worldwide recognition.

Chairman of the Foundation’s Governing Council and former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the declaration on Monday during a strategic visit to the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) at Pan-Atlantic University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

In a passionate address that underscored the growing importance of culture in global tourism, Mohammed described Lagos as uniquely equipped to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with iconic cultural destinations such as Paris, New York and Cairo.

A statement by Nnamdi Atupulazi, Head of Strategic Communication of Lai Mohammed Media Office quoted the former minister as saying, “This visit is not a courtesy call. It is a statement of intent. “

According to him,“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 hailed the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art as “a sanctuary of memory, identity and civilisation,” praising it as a world-class institution capable of driving sustainable tourism, preserving Nigerian heritage and projecting the nation’s cultural identity to the world.

According to him, Lagos possesses enormous untapped cultural assets ranging from visual arts, architecture and cuisine to film, music and fashion, all of which must be strategically packaged to compete on the global tourism stage.

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

Drawing parallels with internationally celebrated tourism icons, the former minister noted that millions of tourists visit Paris for the Louvre Museum, New York for the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Egypt for the pyramids, insisting that Lagos must deliberately build global prestige around its own cultural institutions and landmarks.

He revealed that the Yemisi Shyllon Museum has already become a major attraction for international visitors, reflecting the increasing global appetite for Nigerian creativity and cultural heritage.

Mohammed also called for stronger collaboration among museums, universities, galleries, tourism operators and creative industry stakeholders, stressing that the success of modern tourism destinations depends heavily on authentic cultural experiences.

“The mission of the Yemisi Shyllon Museum aligns naturally with ours,” he said.

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

In his remarks, the Chairman of the YSMA Advisory Council expressed readiness to partner with the Eko Tourism Foundation in advancing the vision of transforming Lagos into a premier international tourism destination.

The visit attracted several notable personalities, including the immediate past President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chief Gabriel Idahosa; Group General Manager of Lagos and Abuja Continental Hotels, Karl Hala; Erelu Abimbola Dosunmu; Vice Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Prof. Enase Okonedo; Museum Director, Jess Castellote; Chairman of the YSMA Advisory Board, Adedotun Sulaiman; and renowned art collector and philanthropist, Prince Yemisi Shyllon.

The renewed push by the Eko Tourism Foundation signals what observers describe as a major cultural and economic strategy aimed at transforming Lagos into Africa’s leading creative and heritage tourism hub.