Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
October 30, 2015 – The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture has reiterated its readiness to continue to support and enhance the tourism values of indigenous festivals and celebrations of the people of the state.
Commissioner for Tourism and Culture in Lagos State, Mr. Folarin Coker stated this while addressing the people of Epe during the celebration of the annual Kayo-kayo festival held on Saturday, 24th October, 2015.
The Commissioner, who was represented at the event by the Head of Tourism Promotion Department, Mrs. Adama Oni, stated that the Ministry has always identified with the annual Kayo-Kayo festival and will continue to support the festival, especially in view of the present administration’s policy on tourism promotion as an investment window to spur employment and further develop the state’s economy.
He added that the government is determined to explore all avenues for the promotion of tourism by providing an enabling environment for the private sector to expand the business opportunities in the promotion of festivals, heritage, art and culture of Lagosians.
Kayo Kayo is an annual religious and cultural festival cum carnival observed by the descendants of Oba Kosoko, who inhabited areas notably referred to as Eko-Epe in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The festival is celebrated during the first month of the Islamic calendar in commemoration of ‘Yaom-al Ashura’ the tenth day of Muhharram in the Islamic calendar. That is about a month after the Muslim festival of Eid-El-Kabir.
