28th March, 2017
The Lagos State Government on Monday unveiled various activities lined up for the final lap of the celebration of the state’s Golden Jubilee anniversary come May 27.
The Co-chair of the planning committee, Mr Habeeb Fasinro at a news conference in Alausa, said the final lap would kick off on April 8.
Fasinro said that the events lined up for the celebration had been carefully selected to tell the story and journey from 1967, when the state was created, to date.
He said the event would begin with a special Musical Play tagged “Wakaa”, produced and directed by ace producer and director, Bolanle Austen-Peters, at the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos.
Fasinro said that the celebration would continue on April 13 with a three-day Broadway Musical Concert tagged “FELA” that would feature the life and times of the Afrobeat creator, Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
He said it would also be used to celebrate his pioneering music, to be performed by a combined cast of the original Broadway production and the Royal National Theatre production under Bill Jones.
The committee co-chair said that a Boat Regatta parade would also hold on April 15 in Epe, Badagry and Lagos Island, to showcase the state’s aquatic asset to residents and visitors alike, while a Jazz Meets Fashion event would take place on April 30.
Fasinro said that this would see Grammy award winning Jazz artistes share the stage with Nigerian musicians, while the evolution of fashion in Lagos State over the past 50 years would also dominate the runway.
He said the celebration would continue on May 1 with a special Workers’ Day celebration by both active and retired civil servants, with a special parade in the morning at the Agege Stadium and a dinner in the evening.
Fasinro added that on May 5, five of the highest box office films and five evergreen films would be screened to the local audience in the five divisions of the state — Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe.
He said a Lagos Carnival would also hold on May 13 in both the Island and Mainland zones of the state and extend to the different communities and ethnic groups in Lagos.
The co-chairman said that the Eyo Festival last staged five years ago, would make a grand return on May 20 at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.
He also said that on May 24, all former governors of the state would join Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode in council for a special state Executive Council Session, while the Judiciary and House of Assembly would hold same on May 18 and May 22 respectively.
He said among other events, the grand finale slated for May 27, which coincides with Children’s Day Celebration, would feature a historic gala night that would have a rich blend of good music and the best of Lagos cuisine and photo exhibition.
Fasinro said it would feature the unveiling of a special coffee table book that captures the essence of Lagos through the lens of 50 accomplished photographers.
“Though the 50-day celebration ends on May 27, the celebration of the state’s Golden Jubilee will continue beyond throughout the year with series of festivals and events to celebrate the state’s rich cultural heritage,” he said.
The co-chair enjoined residents to key into the various events, adding that the anniversary was “a celebration of Lagosians, by Lagosians, for Lagosians”.
Earlier, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said that since May 27, 2016, when the events flagged off, there had been series of events that had held on the 27th of every month as part of the celebration.