The Lagos State Government on Thursday inaugurated the State’s Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Review Committee, with veteran Nollywood actress, Mrs. Joke Silva, as Chairman.

The six-man committee was inaugurated to reactivate the Tourism, Arts, and Culture sector of the state.

Other members of the inaugurated committee include Mr. Atunyota Akpobome (a.k.a Ali Baba), Mr. Patrick Donald Lee, Dr. Adun Okupe, Mrs. Oyenike Okundaye, and Mr. Gbenga Sunmonu.

Inaugurating the committee in Ikeja, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said that the state’s creative industry had remained dormant, following the Coronavirus pandemic.

In her words: “The situation in the world today was not pre-determined. This is where we are and this is what we have seen happening to us. The tourism sector is one of the worst-hit sectors by this pandemic because, on a daily basis, Lagos records new cases and we must not shy away from the fact that COVID-19 is still with us”.

“Everywhere is shut down. The airline operators are not operating, there is nothing like Art exhibitions, and hospitality businesses have been put on hold. So, we want to find a way to sustain our economy and the industry, even with the pandemic and see how best we can continue to improve on the creative sector”, she added.

The committee is expected to submit its reports in two weeks, after conducting a holistic assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and come up with recommendations on the short and long term palliatives with respect to soft loans and grants, to assuage the negative impact of the scourge on the industry.

Akinbile-Yusuf said that the committee was also expected to refocus attention toward the development of domestic tourism as an immediate measure to revitalize the industry.

The Chairman of the Committee, Joke Silva thanked the State Government for the opportunity given to come up with recommendations to reposition the creative and tourism industry in the State, assuring that all the appointees will work together to achieve the expected results.

“I am very lucky to have intelligent people as members of the committee because they are men and women who are very knowledgeable and passionate about the industry. I know that our collaboration will result in good recommendations. The creative industry has been greatly affected by COVID-19, but we will get through it”, she assured.