Lagos has partnered with organisers of the African Cultural Festival to strengthen diaspora engagement, attract investment, and position the state as a “global hub for culture and tourism”.
The festival, themed ‘Africa to the World: Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration’, aims to promote Lagos as a preferred destination for African Americans and other members of the global African diaspora.
The partnership is also expected to stimulate tourism flow between Nigeria and the United States.
Idris Aregbe, special adviser to Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on tourism, arts and culture, said the festival will begin with a series of activities across the state in July and culminate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the United States, on September 19 and 20, 2025.
“Our Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, sees the festival as aligned with our administration’s THEMES+ agenda, particularly around economic diversification and cultural diplomacy, which is why he approved our participation,” he said.
“While it may appear to be a festival of colours, we see beyond that. We see the opportunities it presents to tell our stories and secure a seat among global cultural hubs.
“I can assure you that this platform is a catalyst for lasting socio-economic transformation. We aim to strengthen diaspora participation, because building the Africa of our dreams demands unity, purpose, and commitment from Africans and all who believe in her future.”
The governor’s aide said Lagos will be represented by a delegation of creatives, entrepreneurs and innovators.
As part of the programme, prominent figures such as Nike Okundaye, founder of the Nike Art Gallery, and Miss Phipps, an African cultural ambassador, will be honoured during the ‘Celebrating African Elders’ event.
The festival will also feature several events including the Africa Arise Leadership Summit, Taste of Africa, ACF Marketplace, the African I-D-E-N-T-I-T-Y Exhibition, NextGen Connect Youth Forum, and the African Diaspora Summit.
One of the major launches will be Duduplugs, a digital innovation hub designed to connect Africa’s creative and economic sectors to global opportunities and increase tourism traffic to Lagos.
The African I-D-E-N-T-I-T-Y Exhibition, on the other hand, will showcase African heritage through storytelling, visual art, and film.
The festival is being organised by ACI Entertainment, which operates in Lagos and Pennsylvania, with a mission to elevate Africa’s creative economy on the global stage.
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