The Chairman of Surulere Local Government in Lagos State, Honourable Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf on Wednesday, 23 October, 2024 unveiled the second edition of Surule Day 2024 scheduled to take place between 10 December to15 December, 2024.
Speaking at a well attended unveiling and press conference held at Oluremi Tinubu Hall at the council secretariat, Yusuf, said people from within the country and from the Diaspora will come together to celebrate “our heritage, that has no boundry as well as from diverse culture, ethnicity, political and religious background.”
Yusuf said, ‘’We are about to experience in Surulere another innovation put up by myself, chairperson of the planning committee and other leaders in Surulere. The day is about Surulere aiming to celebrate our ancestral home, this will avail us to unite with family, friends, and associates that we have seen in long time.”
The council boss, “today we are putting the foot of Lere Day on grounds and we hope that the Lere Day just as the other carnivals survived, is sustained for generations unborn to celebrate.
“I know that this celebration is what brought a lot of us home, especially from diaspora and from different spheres of life and this really gladdens my heart because despite our individual affiliations, we are all united for one purpose, the ‘Lere Day”.
Yusuf went down memory lane, to what led to emergence of Surulere, The New Lagos. According to him, originally, the people of Surulere lived in Lagos Island but due to over population, they were relocated to Surulere and the name implies Surulere, meaning patience is rewarding.
“What began as a small middle class then, has strived to become one of the most sophisticated areas of Lagos State and in Nigeria as a whole, Its central location makes it a significant hub for commerce, entertainment and sport residential activities, it is a commercial nerve centre, it is a home to people from various ethnic backgrounds, this diversity is reflected in the local festivals, street carnivals and parties, and other communal activities,” the council boss said.
He said Surulere has been an abode of prominent Nigerians from all fields of endeavours –politics, Nollywood industry , entertainment, captains of industries, among others.
“Most leaders in Nigerian today passed through Surulere community, lived and worked here, and they include President Bola Tinubu; his wife, Remi Tinubu; Femi Gbajabiamila former Speaker of the House Of Representatives and currently Chief of Staff to the President; Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his predecessor in office, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN; the Chief executive of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; the Chief Executive Officer of Zenon Oil Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola; former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke; former Rivers State Governor , Rotimi Ameachi; former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, current Osun State Governor, Demola Adeleke; Afrobeats sensation Whizkid, among others” Yusuf said.
He said Surulelere Day will also have other side attractions such as carnival, beauty contest, symposium, trade fair, cultural display of all ethnic groups residing in the community, where they will showcase their cultural heritage.
Hon Desmond Olusola Elliot, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, said good security network will be put in place to ensure that people who will come to be part of the event, who will come to celebrate with Surulere community are not harass by hoodlums.
“We have done it before, and we are going to do it again. We are going to put in place good security coverage for all those who will be part of this historic event. All security apparatus will be on ground during the celebration period to ensure that everything will go on in peaceful and orderly manner. We may not be perfect but we will be close to it,” the Lagos lawmaker said.
Mrs Omotayo Gbajabiamila, Chairman, Planning Committee of Surulere Day, said the event is meant to preserve the heritage of the community, just as she also expressed her appreciation to the council boss for giving his blessing for the event to hold.
“We have a very strong heritage in Surulere community and we don’t want it to die. I am using this opportunity to express our appreciation to Honourable Sulaimon Yusuf for approving Surulere Day to take place. On behalf of the entire planning committee, We say a big thank you, our amiable chairman,”
Also speaking at the event Lucky Isibor popularly addressed as Mouthpizz, said Surulere, The New Lagos is aimed to honour the rich legacy of community that has been heatbeat of Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
“From the iconic films of Nollywood to the pulsating rhythms of Afrobeats, Surulere has been the launch pad for countless stars, Isibor said, disclosing that Surulere to Stardom, which is meant to discover and nurture the next generation of trail blazers from the vibrant community ,will be showcase during the duration of the event.
“By empowering these young talents, we ensure Surulere’s influence continues to shape Nigeria’s cultural landscape,’’ Isibor said, adding that “Join us as we unlock the potential of Surulere’s future stars and solidify its position as the epicenter of Nigerian entertainment.”
