Lagos State has won the hosting right of the 2016 All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA).

Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of the state on Monday said the winning of the hosting right confirms that Lagos is now the cornerstone for driving African arts and culture.

He expressed his administration’s commitment to continue to support talents in the entertainment industry and promote cultural heritage of the continent.

Governor Ambode, was speaking at the Lagos House, Ikeja, when he received AFRIMA delegation led by Head of Culture of African Union Commission, Angela Martins and AFRIMA President, Mike Dada.

Some of the notable names in the creative industry who were part of the delegation include Innocent Idibia, DJ Jimmy Jatt, Seyi Shay, Praise, Simi, Olisa Adibua, Tee Mac, among others.

The Governor said the development is in sync with his passion of using tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and sports to promote excellence.

This makes it the third time Lagos state will be hosting the AFRIMA awards.

“We are big promoters of our culture; we believe so much in heritage; we believe also that the creative part of the African identity is yet to be tapped and obviously, we need to intervene in some of the things that are being done individually to be able to put things together so that we can together drive the African identity and that is why it is a no brainier for us as a government to actually say that we are going to participate in this.”

He said: “I believe strongly that we can use Tourism, Hospitality, Entertainment and Arts and Sports to actually promote excellence. We believe we are the next face of Africa and we think that the hub of entertainment should actually reside in Lagos and so we will do everything to promote our artists, to promote our producers and even those that are upcoming.”

Besides, the Governor urged those in the creative industry to key into the N25bn Employment Trust Fund set up by his administration. (TV360 Nigeria)

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