The Lagos State Government on Thursday said that it is putting finishing touches to make this year’s edition of its flagship Yuletide revue popularly known as the One Lagos Fiesta (OLF) bigger better and bolder.

Addressing journalists at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House in Ikeja, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said in line with the vision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the event would continue in its tradition of holding across the five zones as it held last year including Ikeja (Agege Stadium), Badagry (Badagry Stadium), Ikorodu (Ikorodu Town Hall), Lagos Island (Bar Beach) and Epe (Epe Recreation Centre).

Ayorinde said this year’s edition would stand out as instead of the five days that it held last December, this year’s will run for eight days across all the zones, commencing from Christmas Eve on December 24 till the wee hours of the New Year.

He said the reason for the expanded fiesta was to keep Lagosians, especially the youths, happy and creatively busy.

“You will recall that we have just had a successful maiden edition of The Lagos Street Party (TLSP) last weekend, in which the popular Ahmadu Bello way in Victoria Island was turned into a carnival and concert ground.

“While TLSP delivered on its mandate to formally usher in the Yuletide season in Lagos and create an additional platform for creative enterprise to flourish, OLF will fulfill its traditional obligation of ending the year on an entertaining note and usher in the new year with fun and fanfare, while carrying along every part of the state in line with the governor’s electoral promise that no part of Lagos will be left behind,” the Commissioner said.

Ayorinde said this year’s edition of the One Lagos Fiesta would also see the introduction of a talent hunt exercise tagged ‘Lagos’ Got Talent’, which according to him, seeks to discover, celebrate and reward exceptional talents among the youth or the young at heart in the areas of music, dance, comedy and other creative stunts.

Explaining how the talent hunt would run, Ayorinde said that interested participants can register online at www.onelagosfiesta.ng as well as in the five zonal offices including Multipurpose hall of Eko FM, Agidingbi Ikeja, Divisional Information Office, Lugard’s House along the Badagry Marina, Divisional Information Office, Ikorodu, 1, Oriwu Street, Ita Elewa, City Hall, Lagos Island and Divisional Information Office, Epe, Chalet Road, beside Lagos High Court, Oke-Oyinbo, Epe.

 He said registration for the talent hunt show would run till Wednesday, December 14, 2016, while those selected from the audition would have an opportunity to perform at the OLF stage in each location between the 24th and 30th of December with the two finalists from each zone slugging it out for the final showdown in Victoria Island on the 31st of December.

“If you are talented in any of these areas and you are looking for a platform to showcase your skills and begin a rewarding journey to stardom, then this year’s OLF is the platform you need,” Ayorinde said.

Also speaking, Co-chairs of the One Lagos Fiesta Committee, Acting Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinshola and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said that winners of the talent hunt show would be handsomely rewarded by the State Government, adding that arrangements have also been made for varieties of A-list and upcoming artistes from all music genres to thrill participants.

They also assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure safety of lives and property throughout the course of the fiesta.