At the maiden edition of Our Lagos, Your Lagos, also known as Connecting Lagos Ambassadors Award, CLA Award, which was organised in Lagos, it was an avenue for connecting people to their culture as well as people generating possibilities, to award distinguished personalities who have contributed to the development of the state, among others. Omolara Akintoye reports
Nigeria’s culture is invaluable and priceless. It is what defines us as a nation. Without it, we lose our identity and it is important that all efforts are made to ensure that it does not dissipate amidst western invasion. This revival cut across all the facets of our social life: language, dressing, cuisine, social interaction, among others. People from all works of life gathered together to promote the culture of Lagos State and the event was held in Lagos at Nike Arts Gallery, Lekki Lagos. The event which was tagged Connecting Lagos, according to the convener of Our Lagos, Your Lagos and the Executive Director, Connecting Lagos, Aregbe Idris, it was organised to bring Lagosians together irrespective of their tribe. “We started with Our Lagos, Your Lagos, which is about connecting Lagos with our culture, in terms of unity and prosperity. We believe Lagos is for all as long as you are ready to add to the progress of Lagos,” he said. Lagos, according to Aregbe, is a state that accommodates all irrespective of their tribe. “Our amiable Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode is playing his part and for us as citizens all we need do is to come up with different ideas and initiatives to support Akinwunmi Ambode’s laudable ideas,” he said. Connecting Lagos, Aregbe further revealed, is also about people generating possibilities in terms of business investment, tourism, arts and culture, among others. “There is need for the older generation to connect with the new generation thereby tapping ideas from them. Connecting Lagos is about raising ambassadors then to appreciate them,” he said. He, however, enjoined Lagisians to expect positive changes in the new year.
Speaking on the need to promote Lagos culture such as Olokun, Epe festival, Badagry Coconut, among others, the co- convener of Connecting Lagos, founder, Nike Arts Gallery, Chief Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye, pointed out that there is need to connect people to their culture so as not to lose it. Okundaye lamented how the Western invasion is gradually eroding our culture, hence the need to revitalise it. Her words: “Our children don’t know their traditional names any more, even such words as beach, they don’t know it again. So if we start now they won’t forget,” she said. The programme, she revealed, is continuous and will be organised every month and the next edition will be to connect widows on how to be creative with whatever they are doing so as to be economically independent. Okundaye who is a lover of culture enjoined Nigerians to be proud of their culture. “I love culture a lot. I know that when you dress in your traditional attire, people love and appreciate you more; the more people can appreciate their culture, the better it is for us,” she enthused.
The essence of Connecting Lagos, according one of the awardees and President, Female Artists Association of Nigeria, Mrs Ngozi Akande, is an effort on the part of Lagos State government to appreciate people that have contributed to the development and sustainability of arts and culture in Nigeria.
Speaking in the state of arts currently, Akande said Nigerian arts is now vibrant and enterprising unlike in the past. “Now, all over the world, Nigerian arts is selling like hot cakes,” she said.
Other high point of the event was the awards to distinguished personalities such as Honorary Consul of Belgium, Lagos, Mrs Paulete Vantrier, CEO Villa Picasso, Otunba Tolani Oladipo, Chairman GAC Motors, Chief Diana Chan, President, Female Artists Association, Mrs Ngozi Akande, among others.