Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has commended the Society for Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) for its sustained efforts in developing creative talent, describing its impact as vital to Nigeria’s cultural and economic growth.
The governor made the remark at SPAN’s inaugural Queen Esther Ball Gala, held at the Glover Memorial Hall in Lagos on Sunday, 19 October, as part of events marking the organisation’s 20th anniversary.
The event drew prominent figures from the arts, business, diplomatic, and faith communities, including veteran actress Joke Silva and other key supporters of Nigeria’s creative industry.
In his address, Governor Sanwo-Olu lauded SPAN’s founder, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, for two decades of commitment to nurturing young creative professionals.
He congratulated the organisation on its milestone anniversary and pledged the state government’s continued support for programmes that empower creative youth.
“We are mindful of the many young people in Lagos and across Nigeria who possess extraordinary creative potential but lack the means to express it. My administration remains committed to supporting initiatives like SPAN that provide those opportunities,” he said. The governor also expressed admiration for the entrepreneurial efforts of the debutantes celebrated at the event, describing them as a reflection of “the creativity and resilience that define Nigeria’s youth.”
The Queen Esther Ball Gala celebrated 11 young debutantes whose work and stories of determination were shared through music, dance, and theatre performances. The evening featured a curated art exhibition, The Unbreakable Thread, and a series of artistic interludes, including a cello and dance trio performance and a segment titled Launch of SPAN @ 20.
Mrs. Boulos, in her opening address, paid tribute to Nigeria’s pioneer Latin and ballroom dance professional, Mr. Valentine Humphrey Aneke, and congratulated Val’s Dance Studio on its 10th anniversary. She said SPAN’s mission remained to make performing arts training accessible and to prepare young Nigerians for global opportunities.
“Our vision has always been to empower young people through the performing arts—to help them discover their voice, their discipline, and their capacity to lead,” Boulos said.
The evening concluded with an ensemble performance of the SPAN Anthem, followed by the introduction of the organisation’s Board of Governors and a musical finale led by Tee Mac’s Gold Convention Band.
Founded in 2005, SPAN provides professional training in dance, music, drama, and production arts. Over the past two decades, it has trained hundreds of young Nigerians who now contribute to the creative economy locally and internationally.
