The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, mentioned his administration stays decided to maintain Lagos open to the world, aggressive in innovation, and firmly positioned as Africa’s main hub for artistic and cultural enterprise.
He mentioned the Lagos State Authorities stays dedicated to partnering with the Federal Authorities and continental establishments to make sure that Africa’s creativity interprets into sustainable worth, shared prosperity, and international affect.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his goodwill message on the ninth version of the All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) held on the Eko Lodges and Suites, Victoria Island, on Sunday night time, mentioned Lagos stays the engine room of Africa’s artistic economic system.
He mentioned, “Lagos State’s engagement with the artistic and cultural business is strategic, deliberate, and pushed by clear coverage intent. Underneath our administration, the artistic sector has been positioned as a core pillar of {economic} diversification, job creation, tourism improvement, and international competitiveness, totally aligned with our improvement framework, the THEMES+ Agenda.
“We’ve got moved past rhetoric to motion by embedding the artistic economic system into our broader {economic} technique, supporting enabling laws and institutional reforms, encouraging non-public sector participation, and positioning Lagos as a safe and scalable vacation spot for artistic funding.
“In Lagos, music isn’t just leisure; it’s {economic} infrastructure. In a metropolis outlined by its youthful inhabitants, our focus is to rework expertise into sustainable careers by investing in expertise improvement, artistic hubs, and digital infrastructure that allow younger individuals to transform creativity into long-term {economic} alternative, not short-lived visibility.
“Each time African music dominates international charts, sells out worldwide arenas, or shapes international tradition, Lagos is a central a part of that story. Our duty is to make sure that this international success is anchored at residence by infrastructure, coverage stability, and an enabling atmosphere that draws funding whereas empowering native expertise.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu, within the assertion signed by Gboyega Akosile, Particular Adviser, Media and Publicity and issued on Monday, additionally acknowledged the Federal Authorities’s help for AFRIMA and initiatives that advance Africa’s artistic economic system, saying, “Underneath the management of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the artistic sector has been clearly recognised as a strategic driver of {economic} diversification, youth employment, and international competitiveness.
“This nationwide focus, together with the institution of devoted institutional help for the artistic economic system, reinforces the significance of platforms like AFRIMA that transfer African music past celebration into structured {economic} alternative.
“I commend AFRIMA for 9 years of imaginative and prescient, resilience, and management in elevating African music past celebration into critical {economic} dialog and continental collaboration. As we glance forward, Lagos State’s dedication stays clear and unwavering: to deepen funding in creativity, develop {economic} alternatives for our individuals, strengthen our establishments, and safe Lagos’ place as Africa’s undisputed artistic and cultural capital, not only for at present, however for generations to return.”
On the ninth All Africa Music Awards, Nigerian superstars Burna Boy, Rema, Yemi Alade, Shallipopi, Phyno, Qing Madi and Chella clinched main awards on the occasion.
Rema picked up three awards on the night time, successful Artiste of the Yr, Greatest Male Artiste in Western Africa, and Greatest African Artiste in RnB and Soul.
Burna Boy gained the Album of the Yr for ‘No Signal of Weak point’, whereas Yemi Alade gained Greatest Soundtrack in a Film, Collection or Documentary for her track, ‘You Are’ (Iyanu: The Animated Collection).
Shallipopi gained Tune of the Yr with Laho and likewise picked up Greatest African Collaboration alongside Burna Boy. Phyno gained Greatest African Artiste in African Hip-Hop, whereas fast-rising singer Chella emerged as African Followers’ Favorite. Qing Madi gained Most Promising Artist of the Yr.