Tourism: Sanwo-Olu Commissioner Goes Off Track, Plans Digital Party With DJ Jimmy Jatt, Deejay CONEL

Despite the pains and difficulties that the travel and tourism industry is going through nationwide, the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has announced plans to hold its first entertainment show since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in the State as part of creative innovations being considered by the Ministry in the face of the pandemic.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat AkinbiIe-Yusuf, who made the disclosure, said the virtual event will hold on Friday, 10th July 2020, between 7 pm and 11 pm.

She stated that the ‘Digital Lagos Party’ has been designed to thrill Lagosians with quality musical vibes from popular Nigeria Deejay, Jimmy Jatt alongside Deejay CONEL, stressing that free data would also be provided for participants to live-stream the event on Lagos State Government Facebook Page.

While urging Lagosians and none Lagosians alike to join the live stream of the evening party, the Commissioner informed that the free data subscription would only be made available during the event for those that join the party.

She also implored interested participants to follow the social media handles of the Ministry on Facebook and Instagram @lagostourism, Twitter @lagostourismO, and subscribe to the Ministry’s YouTube Channel on Lagos Tourism, adding that these are some of the conditions for winning the free data package for the event.

The digital party, AkinbiIe-Yusuf assured, promises to be very interactive and fun-filled, stressing that participants would also be engaged in brief questions and answers session about Lagos under an atmosphere of fun and relaxation.

Since the news broke yesterday, several industry operators; in both arts, entertainment and tourism express shock and doubt, if the commissioner and her team know what they are doing at the ministry.

Pelu Awofeso, prominent travel, arts, and cultural writer said, ‘’Lagos DOES NOT need a digital party. — not now, at least’’. If you must host one, then move it to December.

He stressed forward that ‘’After the gains made in nearly a decade [2011-2019], this song-and-dance approach to serious business is a slap on our faces’’. It is dribbling backward.

‘’This is the second commissioner to hold that office in a space of just 12 months. The ministry should be strategising with stakeholders, not trying to throw a party’’. Please, get serious! he wrote on his Facebook page.

Also commenting, Taiye Baiyerohi Olayemi wrote, ‘’Truly uncalled for at this time when every tourism and Entertainment stakeholders are still trying to get their footings due to their losses during COVID-19, she must be properly advised’’.

On his part, Lucky Onoriode George, Publisher, African Travel Times Magazine, West Africa only monthly travel and tourism publication in his response to Pelu Awofeso’s post, wrote that ‘’People are asking for PALLIATIVE to support their businesses, she’s talking of DIGITAL PARTY’’.