The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has been honoured with the “Best Commissioner of the Year” award at the prestigious 2025 Lagos-Ikeja City Awards.
The event, which held over the weekend in Ikeja, brought together key stakeholders in governance, business, and the creative industries to celebrate individuals and institutions making remarkable impact across various sectors within the Lagos metropolis.
Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka was recognised for her outstanding leadership and significant contributions to the advancement of tourism and culture in Lagos State. Since assuming office, she has led several initiatives aimed at promoting the state’s cultural heritage and boosting its tourism potential.
Speaking after receiving the award, the commissioner expressed gratitude to the organisers for the recognition, noting that it serves as encouragement to do more.
“This award is not just for me, but for the entire team at the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture who work tirelessly to showcase the beauty and diversity of Lagos. We are committed to making Lagos a top cultural and tourism destination in Africa,” she said.
The Lagos-Ikeja City Awards is an annual event organised to celebrate excellence in public service, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community development within the city. The 2025 edition featured over 30 award categories, with recipients selected through a transparent nomination and voting process.
Mrs. Benson-Awoyinka’s recognition comes on the heels of several successful cultural programmes under her leadership, including the Lagos Culturella Festival and the state-backed “Detty December” festivities, which drew thousands of local and international tourists to Lagos in the last year.
The award further underscores the state government’s drive, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda, to revitalise the tourism and creative sectors as engines for economic growth and job creation.