Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Mr Folorunso Folarin-Coker, has attributed the poor recognition of Lagos State as a tourist destination to the issue of brand reputation which he said the state is suffering from.

The commissioner said this while addressing audience at the Social Media Week (SMW)2016, Lagos with the theme, “Destination Lagos: A Digital Journey”.

According to him, the social media which is at the heart of social development has a lot of role to play in changing the reputation of the state which is perceived by so many both home and abroad as bad, even as it has become a veritable instrument for engagement and dissemination of information across the globe.

The state he said, has come to a point where it needs to take advantage of this all important aspect of technology to showcase its potential talents, culture, diversity, heritage, creativity and party spirit which has given rise to the need for the One Lagos Master Brand.

Coker added that with the population of the state and its vibrant youths, contents that would strengthen institutions and establishments in the state to grow should be pushed online with the aid of the various social media platform.

“Lagos is seen as a state that is dirty, infrastructure poor, noisy and divided. Until one finds a replica of what is found elsewhere, it will be difficult to define Lagos as energetic, city of dreams and city that never sleeps.The high consumer class, the-go-getters the can-do spirit of the Lagos people can be used to build the One-Lagos Master Brand that is needed to change the state’s reputation,” he said.

The commissioner revealed that government at all levels are really the last ones to catch up on events in the social media, but that the state would change for the existence of a developed, unified and consistent state that will be devoid of crime and criminalities through effective use of the social media.

This he said could be done through the use of social media, whereby the true picture of what exists in Lagos and its vast opportunities would be highlighted for her greater good and the good of the nation.

The commissioner said that there was need to revalue the cab services, hotels, beaches and other industries and activities in the state for it to give it the face lift that was needed.

“For entertainment and leisure, some beaches like the Elegushi in Lagos are places that the government has put structures so that it will give the state a facelift and the brand perception it needs,” he said.

He said that government had also created an enabling environment for businesses to succeed and if also shown on the social media would change that reputation.

Author: Theresa Igata