Press Releases

Lagos Shows Her Colours On Easter Monday

Apr 5, 2010 - A capacity crowd of Lagos residents and dignitaries from the United States and other parts of the world on Easter Monday thronged the Tafawa Balewa Square to witness a beautiful display and scintillating performance by various brilliantly attired Fanty groups as the Lagos Carnival 2010 climaxed.

The Lagos Carnival which is a beautiful recreation of the age long tradition of Brazilian Lagos as pioneered by Brazilian returnees, Emancipados ,was given added impetus through a colourful display of music, dance and procession along designated routes by various groups for the Lagos Carnival.

An array of personalities including State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), his wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I, American film star, Danny Glover watched with excitement as the various groups marched past the dignitaries.

The various contingents of the participants had earlier gone through different routes like Ahmadu Bello Way, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Awolowo Road, Akin Adesola Street, Ikoyi Road and the King George Road in a road show which was characterized by beautiful leg works and display

All the six educational districts in Lagos were represented at the parade which also featured areas like Ikeja, Ketu, Agege, Ifako- Ijaiye, IKorodu , Ogba, Isolo, Surulere, Odi Olowo, Mushin, Ilasamaja, Oworonshoki ,Awoyaya, Addo Langbasa, Bogije, Epe and Badagry all joined the traditional Fanti groups of Campos Lafiaji, Epetedo and Oko Faji in the beautiful display and a spirit of broader participation.

In his remarks at the event, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) emphasized that the successful staging of the carnival is a demonstration that culture and tourism will play a leading role in the new Lagos.

He said while the week long Black Heritage Festival of which the Lagos Carnival forms an integral part is a sad reminder of the heinous crime of man’s inhumanity to man, the people of Lagos are ready to move away from the sad memories of the slave trade and transform it into a carnival.

The Governor said through the festival, Lagos has exhibited its culture, its food, its creativity and its readiness to open Lagos as a tourist destination.

Governor Fashola said in the last few weeks, students and instructors at the skills acquisition centres in the state have worked day and night to make the audacious statement about the readiness of Lagos to enable its tourist economy.

He thanked all categories of people and elders of the State who have provided wise counsel to the organizing committee on how to go about it as well as the students and costume designers, graduates at the Skills Acquisition Centres who worked hard to show the growing strength of the Lagos economy.

The Governor said without any foreign supervision or input, the Skill Acquisition Centres produced over 93,000 costumes locally which were adorned by the participants to demonstrate that Lagos is the new fashion capital of the world.

The Governor while extending his invitation to the guests to still be a part of that of next year, said preparations for that edition has already started in earnest so that the state can present another masterpiece of a Lagos Carnival during the Easter holidays.

Among other notable dignitaries who witnessed the Carnival were members of the State Executive Council, Local Government Chairmen, members of the organizing committee and the Chairman, Mr Disun Holloway.