By Taiye Olayemi
Lagos, Dec. 18, 2025 (NAN) – The upcoming 2025 Eko Fiesta is being positioned as far more than a seasonal celebration. According to its organisers, the three-day event is a strategic economic and cultural intervention designed to catalyse local businesses, empower the next generation of creative talent, and solidify Lagos State’s reputation as Africa’s premier tourism and cultural destination.
Mr Damilare Osho, a partner at Dosh and Wales Company, the event’s organisers, unveiled this vision at a news conference in Lagos, framing the fiesta as a critical nexus where celebration intentionally fuels commerce and community development.
“The Eko Fiesta is a vision to create an inclusive hub where celebration meets commerce, reflecting the indefatigable spirit of Lagos while providing tangible support for local talent and enterprise,” Osho stated. “While Lagos in December is traditionally filled with concerts and parties, we identified a significant gap for a curated, purpose-driven event that blends enjoyment with economic opportunity and cultural immersion. Eko Fiesta is engineered to bridge that gap.”
Beyond a Marketplace: A Strategic Ecosystem for SMEs
Osho explained that the free event, scheduled for December 22-24, is specifically designed to address a common pain point for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs): access to a diverse, high-intent consumer base. Unlike typical trade fairs, Eko Fiesta integrates commerce into a vibrant festival atmosphere, attracting not just shoppers but also tourists, diaspora returnees, and cultural enthusiasts.
“This creates a dynamic platform for direct-to-consumer engagement that boosts both trade and brand visibility,” he noted. The inspiration, he revealed, came from observing the challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora and international visitors during the festive season, who often struggle to find a consolidated, authentic experience combining culture, shopping, and networking.
A Launchpad for Youth and Creative Industries
The fiesta’s scope extends beyond retail. It is conceived as a holistic platform for youth empowerment within the creative economy. Osho detailed plans to showcase young innovators in fashion, music, visual arts, and digital content creation. Crucially, the event will facilitate mentorship sessions and networking opportunities, connecting emerging talent with established industry leaders, investors, and development institutions.
“This is about creating a civic and commercial platform for meaningful engagement among our youth, the diaspora community, and institutions that can scale their ideas,” Osho emphasised.
Government and Corporate Backing for Sustainable Impact
The initiative has garnered significant institutional support, signalling a recognised alignment with broader economic goals. Mr Idris Aregbe, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, reaffirmed the government’s commitment.
“Events like Eko Fiesta are not merely entertainment; they open vast, sustainable opportunities for our youths in entertainment, creative arts, and culture-focused enterprises,” Aregbe said. He assured that the state government views the fiesta as a key part of its cultural infrastructure and intends to support its growth in subsequent years.
Further validating the event’s economic premise, Wema Bank Plc has come on board as a sponsor. Mrs Ayodele Olojede, the bank’s Divisional Head of Retail and SMEs, linked the sponsorship directly to the bank’s core mission.
“Our participation stems from a deep-seated belief in youth and SME empowerment as pillars of national development,” Olojede said. “We will be on the ground throughout the event not only to service customers but to engage with new entrepreneurs, offering solutions for their complex financial needs, from seed funding to digital payment systems.”
On-the-Ground Excitement from a Beneficiary
The tangible impact of the platform was echoed by young fashion entrepreneur, Miss Tosky Opeifa, who will be exhibiting at the fiesta. “I am excited to be part of an event that understands the value of our craft,” she said. “My plan is to showcase how European silhouettes can be masterfully blended with local Nigerian fabrics like aso-oke and adire. This is the perfect stage to demonstrate Nigerian craftsmanship to a global audience right here in Lagos.”
In essence, the 2025 Eko Fiesta presents itself as a multifaceted initiative. It aims to function as a vibrant cultural showcase, an active SME incubator, a youth talent accelerator, and a strategic project to attract foreign direct investment into Lagos’s creative and tourism sectors, ultimately aiming to establish the state as the undeniable hub for arts, culture, and entertainment business in Africa.
Edited by Folasade Adeniran
