Sanwo-Olu Champions Maiden Lagos Shopping Festival, Secures Support from Zenith, First Bank, Tolaram, Guinness

The maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival (LSF), touted as Africa’s first 72-hour non-stop commerce and entertainment extravaganza, has been lauded as an extraordinary success.

Described as a groundbreaking initiative, the event owes much of its triumph to the visionary leadership of Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The event, held from 23rd to 25th December 2024 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Stadium, Lagos, attracted thousands of buyers, sellers, and fun-seekers.

A unique blend of commerce and entertainment, the festival showcased local and global brands while delivering electrifying performances by Nigerian music stars, including Adekunle Gold, Wande Coal, and Teni.

Speaking on the success of the festival, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa Ltd, the organisers of the event, credited Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership for the event’s achievements.

“The Lagos Shopping Festival would not have materialised without the Governor’s commitment to the audacious idea presented to him during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

“His role as the Chief Marketing Officer for the project attracted the backing of corporate giants such as Zenith Bank, First Bank, Tolaram Group, and Guinness Nigeria Plc,” Opayemi noted.

Zenith Bank and First Bank brought their expertise to the fore by deploying mobile banking platforms and providing vendors with special Point of Sale (PoS) machines, enabling seamless transactions.

They also used the festival to promote their banking products to attendees.

Tolaram Group, on the other hand, won hearts with its philanthropy, distributing goodie bags filled with products such as PowerOil, Indomie, and Kellogg’s cereals to attendees.

Indomie also activated the Children’s Arena, offering a safe and vibrant space with free meals, gifts, and entertainment courtesy of Santa Claus and the Lagos State Safety Marshalls.

Guinness Nigeria provided a festive touch by organising product sampling sessions featuring premium brands like Johnnie Walker, Ciroc, and Captain Morgan.

Guests were treated to unique experiences that highlighted Guinness’ iconic status in Nigeria’s entertainment scene.

At the unveiling of the festival’s identity in December, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the sponsors for their pioneering roles, describing the festival as a significant addition to Lagos State’s tourism calendar and a strategic move to boost its GDP.

“I acknowledge your pioneering sponsorship role,” he said. “Supporting the maiden edition of the Lagos Shopping Festival demonstrates courage and foresight. I urge you to commit long-term to this initiative and ensure its continued growth.”

Girish Sharma, CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, echoed the Governor’s sentiments, calling the festival a perfect reflection of Lagos’ energy as the commercial and entertainment hub of Africa.

“This creative fusion of commerce and entertainment showcases endless opportunities, and we are proud to be part of it,” Sharma remarked.

The Lagos Shopping Festival successfully bridged the gap between commerce and entertainment, with performances from top entertainers, including BNXN, Young Jonn, and Teni, as well as comedy acts by Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st and Larry J. Renowned DJs like DJ Neptune and DJ YK Mule kept the crowd energised throughout the event.

With the resounding success of its maiden edition, the Lagos Shopping Festival has set a high bar for subsequent iterations, solidifying Lagos as a beacon of innovation and vibrancy on the African continent.