Google launches ‘Eko for Show’ to celebrate arts, culture in Lagos

Google Arts & Culture has announced the launch of ‘Eko for Show‘, an initiative to showcase and celebrate Lagos state.

The search giant broke the news in a statement to TheCable Lifestyle on Wednesday.

According to the company, the online exhibition will profile over 100 creatives across the spectrum of music, art, photography, fashion, literature, and food to further promote the showbiz industry.

Google added that the initiative is a collaboration between the search engine and seven top cultural institutions in the state.

Amit Sood, Google Arts & Culture director, said the initiative is aimed at further exploring the creative potentials in Lagos.

“Google Arts & Culture’s mission is to preserve and promote the world’s art and culture online to everyone, anywhere in the world. With Eko for Show, we celebrate the creative industry of Lagos and share the buzz, even if virtually, through the works and stories of its incredible youth and culture,” Sood said.

Also speaking, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, described the event as a welcome development considering the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the creative industry.

“The coronavirus regrettably resulted in the cancellation of many creative events in Lagos State, which is why I am so excited about the Eko for Show project, a continuation of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation’s partnership with Google Arts & Culture,” he said.

“It highlights the impressive body of creative talent to which Lagos is home, spreading the news across the world.”

On his part, Folorunsho Coker, director-general of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, said the event would further help promote the agency’s quest of growing the economy by exploring the creative industry.

“Our partnership with Google Arts & Culture has a crucial role to play in seeing us achieve our mission of accelerating growth of domestic tourism, and fostering economic development in Nigeria,” he said.