As the world celebrates World Tourism Day, organisers of the Eko ChopKulture Festival are optimistic that the initiative would generate a ₦570 billion worth heritage food marketplace.

Victor Wilkinson Agih, Global Culture Diplomacy Expert and Convener of Culture Money Africa, in a statement explained that the festival represents a visionary commitment to transform Lagos into Africa’s premier hub for sustainable food culture tourism, humanitarian innovation, and creative economy growth.

Anchored by a bold ₦570 billion heritage financial model, he added that the Eko ChopKulture Festival integrates food culture diplomacy, humanitarian aid, green development, and digital innovation into a single tourism economy blueprint.

“Food is the most powerful currency of culture. With Eko ChopKulture, Lagos is proving that food heritage can unlock billions in sustainable tourism, create jobs for millions, drive green, blue, and circular economy opportunities while innovating climate finance,” he said.

“This is culture money food tourism marketplace in action for a greener, cleaner, healthier Lagos of sustainability, bankability, and eco-heritage tourism mobility,” he said.

Themed “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” he stressed that by placing food heritage at the heart of tourism, Lagos is reframing what it means to build an inclusive economy—one that nourishes, entertains, heals, and sustains both people and planet.

Among the gains of the proposed festival are 5,700 heritage tourism gift cards stimulating demand and creating new consumer pathways for heritage food and tourism; 5,700 ChopKulture Envoys and community ambassadors of diversity, peace, and food culture diplomacy across Lagos State; 57,000 Eko ChopKulture zones; and a 57 km highway which is a connected tourism corridor linking food hubs, creative clusters, and eco-tourism sites across Lagos State.

Program Director, Eko ChopKulture Festival, Mr. Raymond Oluwasegun Lawal, acknowledged that Lagos is where heritage meets innovation, adding that the Eko ChopKulture Festival is not just a carnival; it is a blueprint for sustainable tourism.

He said: “Every token represents opportunity, every envoy represents inclusion, and every heritage pot represents the unity we need to move Lagos—and Africa—forward.”