By Onyeka Ezike
Downtown Promotions is currently lighting up the streets of Victoria Island, Lagos, with its unveiling of the maiden edition of the Victoria Island Carnival, themed “Eko’s Jewel: A Legacy Rich in Colour.”
The week-long celebration of heritage, creativity and commerce commenced on September 14, and will end on September 20, 2026.
The carnival, according to the organizers is designed to celebrate the culture, creativity and economic significance of the Victoria Island, as the event brings residents, business owners and visitors across the corridor together in a vibrant showcase of colour, culture and heritage. The event will highlight the vibrant nature of Victoria Island, with participants and visitors expected to witness a colourful parade and a series of entertainment, cultural and business activities.
Activities lined up for the event include a Carnival Village, Victoria Island Street Party, Grand Carnival Parade, live musical performances by Ola Jayce and other artistes, fashion showcases, food fairs, cultural exhibitions, art installations, community engagement programmes and business networking events.
Speaking during a press conference held in Lagos, founder and convener of the Carnival, Abiodun Ayorinde, said the idea for the carnival was conceived after two years of rigorous research, stakeholder engagement, conversations and a deep desire by Downtown Promotions to create something meaningful for Victoria Island and Lagos State as a whole.
He said: “For over two years, we have nurtured this vision of bringing people together to celebrate the history, culture and identity of Victoria Island.
“The idea is to create an event that will bring people together across generations, cultures and backgrounds, with a fusion of entertainment, tourism, business and creativity, to tell a story about one of Lagos’ most iconic locations.”
According to Ayorinde, the carnival was driven by a sense of purpose, as it would create a platform to celebrate the people, businesses, communities and stories that have shaped Victoria Island over the years. He added that the event would also honour the island’s legacy while creating room for new ideas, talent and possibilities.
“We believe that an event of this scale can deliver significant benefits to the city and its people. Economically, the carnival will create opportunities for small businesses, food vendors, fashion brands, creatives, artisans, performers, event professionals, hospitality providers, transport operators and many other businesses within the creative and service sectors,” he said.
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Ayorinde further said the carnival would serve as a marketplace for Nigerian creativity, providing opportunities for designers, musicians, chefs, artists, content creators and cultural entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and improve their commercial visibility. He said: “We also want the carnival to become a meaningful marketplace for Nigerian creativity. From designers and musicians to chefs, artists, content creators and cultural entrepreneurs, we want to give talented people the opportunity to showcase what they do and build stronger commercial visibility.”
The carnival would showcase Victoria Island from a tourism perspective as more than a business district, highlighting the iconic Lagos location as a destination with history, character, architecture, hospitality and culture, as well as a unique connection to the story of Lagos. The event would also attract visitors from other parts of Nigeria and around the world to explore Victoria Island, patronise local businesses and experience the richness of Lagos in a new way, while also featuring a film documentary that would highlight the diversity of Lagos.
Also speaking, Group CEO and Founder of Landmark Group, Landmark Africa, Paul Onwuanibe, said the carnival would contribute significantly to tourism in Lagos State while promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage. He said the event was an indication that the state was on the right path in its efforts to promote tourism. “The carnival will have huge impact and significance on Lagos tourism as it shows we are on the right track towards promoting tourism in Lagos State,” Onwuanibe said.
The Project Lead of Downtown Promotions, Afolabi Ajomale, said the carnival was born out of the desire to give Victoria Island its own celebration, adding that the community should have its own story to tell. Ajomale said the organisers were looking at ways to attract more people to Lagos, drawing inspiration from festivals such as the popular Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu, Ogun State.
“We decided to look at what can bring people to Lagos, more like the way people go to Ijebu for the famous Ojude Oba Festival in Ogun State. So, we decided to curate something similar that can bring the global community to visit Lagos.
“Victoria Island is a melting point for commerce, hospitality and entertainment. We have also reached out to individuals and brands that have built something worth recognising from Victoria Island to come and tell their stories through the carnival while celebrating their achievements. Brands like Eko Hotel have built something remarkable from Victoria Island, hosting some of the biggest musical concerts in Africa,” he said.
