Lagos State Government has announced the Lagos Cultural Weekend 2025, a 72-hour citywide celebration designed to strengthen tourism’s contribution to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The festival, scheduled for November 14–16, will take place at landmark locations across the city and will showcase live music, traditional dance, fashion, culinary tastings, art exhibitions, craft displays, and cultural lectures.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mr Idris Aregbe, described the cultural weekend as part of the broader Lagos Cultural Mission, which seeks to position heritage as an engine of economic growth.
“We want the Lagos Cultural Weekend to be a mirror of who we are, a spectacle for tourists and visitors from around the world to see the depth of our culture. Over three days, it will be a cultural baptism, an immersive introduction to our identity. As a government, we now recognise cultural representation as a genuine force for economic progress,” Mr Aregbe said.
He stressed that the initiative extends beyond performances, pointing out that it includes deliberate investment in artisans, creatives, historians, culinary experts, fashion designers, and traditional institutions.
According to him, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration values collaboration and inclusivity, which is why the government intends to work with Lagosians who embody and preserve cultural knowledge to achieve these objectives.
The programme will feature DIY workshops, cultural symposiums, indigenous storytelling, literature exhibitions, and performances by groups representing the city’s ethnic diversity.
“Through strategic partnerships, corporate sponsorship, and strong community involvement, this initiative will create a new benchmark for inclusive cultural programming in Lagos and on the African continent,” Mr Aregbe stated.
The Lagos Cultural Weekend 2025 is projected to draw thousands of visitors, stimulate the state’s creative economy, and strengthen Nigeria’s cultural diplomacy on the global stage.