The maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival (LSF), Africa?s first 72-hour non-stop commerce and entertainment event may have come and gone, but it has continued to receive rave reviews for its incredible success, with many describing it as indeed a bold outing for a maiden edition. But one man who was instrumental to its success was no other than the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

This was disclosed by Israel Jaiye Opayemi, Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa Ltd, one of Africa?s leading Public Relations Consulting firms, the main organisers of the event.

According to him, although Chain Reactions Africa may have conceptualised the event, the festival could be rightly described as the Governor?s baby and owes its success to his leadership. ?Firstly, the Lagos Shopping Festival could not have come to fruition if the Governor did not buy into our audacious plan when we first presented the idea to him during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Secondly, it was the Governor?s exemplary leadership of the project as its Chief Marketing Officer which attracted the buy-in of key sponsors like Zenith Bank, Tolaram Group, First Bank Plc, and Guinness Nigeria Plc,? Opayemi revealed.

While the duo of Zenith Bank and First Bank provided their bank on wheel platforms for buyers at the Lagos Shopping Festival, they also supported the Vendors with special Point of Sale Machines with which to process payments from buyers. The banks were also seen marketing their diverse banking products to guests within the shopping arena.

For Tolaram, it was a time to support the citizens and give back to society. Guests at the Lagos Shopping Festival were freely given some of the products of the group such as PowerOil, Indomie and Kellogg?s packaged into goodie bags and given out to prospective buyers at the shopping arena. The Children?s Arena was however activated by Indomie with the children entertained by Santa Claus within a well equipped arena manned by the Indomie Brands team and the Lagos State Safety Marshalls. The children were daily treated to free Indomie meals daily and given various gifts to go home with.

On its part, Guinness Nigeria came through as the real life of the Nigerian party by organizing product sampling activation for the teeming guests at the festival using brands such as Singleton, Johnnie Walker, Ciroc, Don Royale and Captain Morgan to deliver pleasant experiences to guests aside from Guinness and Malta Guinness.

While unveiling the identity of the festival last month, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had thanked the management of Zenith Bank Plc, Tolaram Africa Group, Guinness Nigeria Plc and First Bank of Nigeria for supporting the idea of a Lagos Shopping Festival, describing it as a value addition on the state?s tourism calendar and the overall efforts to grow the State?s GDP. The Governor further said, ?I must specially acknowledge your pioneering sponsorship role. It is easy for a corporate sponsor to jump on the sponsorship band wagon of an already established festival and fund it. But you are supporting the maiden edition of this Lagos Shopping Festival with us. The competition is watching you now. Do not build this brand with us and yield the space for the competition to take over. I do hope you would all commit long term to this brilliant initiative.?

On his part, Girish Sharma, CEO Guinness Nigeria Plc, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative. ?Lagos is the commercial heartbeat of Nigeria and Africa?s entertainment capital, and the Lagos Shopping Festival captures its essence. We see opportunities in this initiative because it is a creative fusion of commerce and entertainment. This partnership reflects our dedication to fostering economic opportunities and support the nation?s vibrant entertainment industry.?

A first-of-its-kind, the festival was a convergence of commerce and entertainment, bringing together buyers and sellers in the MSME ecosystem, and hordes of fun-seekers who were entertained with thrilling performances by A-list entertainers, including Adekunle Gold, Wande Coal, Teni, Young Jonn, BNXN, Ayo Maff, SB Live and EmmaOMG. The list also Included some of Nigeria?s most sought after DJs such as DJ Neptune, DJ YK Mule, DJ Baddo while Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st and Larry J dished out rib-cracking comedy performances.

Held from 23rd to 25th Day of December 2024, at the iconic Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, Lagos, the Lagos Shopping Festival saw thousands of fans throng the main venue and select Lagos malls during the three-day period to bag the latest bargains from local and top global brands.

?PHOTO: L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Girish Sharma; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; representative of Zenith Bank Plc; MD/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, Mr. Israel Jaiye Opeyemi, and Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem during the unveiling of the Lagos Shopping Festival Symbol at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja recently.

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