Lagosians Spend N36billion anually On 'Owambe' Parties- Gov. Fashola

 

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola at the weekend, said residents of the state spend not less than 36 billion yearly in organizing different social events, famously known as Owambe.

According to him, the figure was collated after a careful study of social events, especially party-life in Lagos.
Fashola gave this figure while speaking at the fourth edition of the Lagos Ignite Enterprise and Employability project, a joint youth empowerment programme between the government and the Afterschool Graduate Development Centre, AGDC.
The governor, during the event, which attracted hundreds of youth, ex-Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Ali Baba among other dignitaries, also said solution to the unemployment crisis in the country does not require any foreign idea, saying "the answer is a Made in Nigeria strategy."

According to him, "this was the study of nightlife carried out by the government in five local governments, including Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another local government. It showed that more than N36 billion was spent on 1555 parties held within the period.
"We did a study between October and November last year, we took just five local governments in Lagos; Agege, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja and another one.
"We studied from Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, three days every week for four weeks which was 12 nights.
"In 12 nights, 1555 parties were held in these local governments. In terms of drinks, food and all other engagements during such parties, about N1.2 billion was spent and when we dis-aggregated them, we saw how much went to DJ, MC, food and drinks, the total picture in the state now and I don't want to give you a wrong number but it's something in the region of about N3 billion monthly on that side of our life and people are playing and impacting on that side of our economy.
The governor noted that clothing materials worn during such parties popularly called "Aso-ebi" gulped at least N1.2 billion monthly, saying the market is huge with much yet to be tapped from it."