Lagos Island is often referred to as Lagos’s business and financial centre. From Grade A offices to local and international companies, the Island part of Lagos has become the ideal location for middle-class residents seeking proximity to company headquarters and trendy restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The Island is also comprised of Eko Atlantic, Africa’s most impressive city development.
1. Visit the Lekki Conservation Centre
Situated at KM 19, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lekki Conservation Centre is open every day from 8:30 am to 5:30. It was founded in 1990 by the Nigerian Conservative Foundation to educate visitors on ecosystems and the importance of coexisting with nature. Lekki Conservation Centre is 78-hectare natural resource conservation in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria. It is an oasis of nature within the urban areas of Lagos. The suspended canopy walkway at the Lekki Conservation Centre is the longest in Africa.
The canopy walkway features six towers that rise over 22 feet each. They are connected by a series of suspended walkways that offer a unique 360-degree view of the conservation centre from above.
The Lekki Conservation Centre is home to a variety of wildlife including monkeys, tortoises and rare birds.
2. Visit the Nike Art Gallery
Nike Art Gallery is owned by Nike Davies-Okundaye. The gallery is among the largest of its kind in West Africa. Located at 2, Oba Yekini Elegushi Road, Lekki Phase 1, the Nike Art Gallery is housed in a five-storey building.
The Nike Art Gallery boasts a collection of about 8,000 diverse artworks from various Nigerian artists. It is open to the public for free. However, group tours are priced depending on the size of the party. Photography is only allowed with visitors in the frame so, you are not allowed to take pictures of the artwork itself.
3. Visit the National Museum, Lagos
Located on Onikan road, Ikoyi, Lagos is the Nigerian National Museum. The museum has a notable collection of Nigerian art, including pieces of statuary, carvings and archaeological and ethnographic exhibits. The National Museum, Lagos was founded in 1957 by the English archaeologist, Kenneth Murray.
The museum has some amazing art on display, including the Cycle of Life exhibit which explores traditional Nigerian life, from birth to death, to the afterlife. Exhibits like a Yoruba pot used to bury the umbilical cord of a child and an Egungun masquerade costume used to dance during the funeral of a chieftain. There are also Nok Terracottas from Benin City and the bullet-riddled car from the assassination of Murtala Muhammed. Ancient Nigerian crowns and intricately handcrafted artefacts are also on display.
The museum is open every day from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm and is closed on Sundays.
4. Visit Freedom Park, Lagos
Born of the ruins of Her Majesty’s Broad Street Prisons is Freedom Park. The prison was reconstructed to preserve the cultural heritage of the Nigerian people. Freedom Park on Broad Street, in the heart of downtown Lagos.
It is a memorial and leisure Park designed by architect Theo Lawson. With an entry fee of 200 naira, Freedom Park is open every day from 10 am to 10 pm. It was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence in October 2010. The park serves as a national memorial, a historical landmark and a cultural site. Today, Freedom Park is a venue for social events and recreational entertainment.
5. Visit the New Afrika Shrine
First built by Afrobeats legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his sister, Yeni, the New Afrika Shrine is an open-air entertainment centre located in Lagos State. The shrine was built on October 15, 2000, to honour Fela Anikulapo Kuti.
The essence of the shrine is to have a place where the true beauty of African music would be recognized. The messages in Kuti’s music were intended to awaken our sensibilities against colonialism and unjust rule. Today, Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s sons, Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti sometimes perform at the shrine.
6. Visit the Elegushi Beach
The Elegushi Beach is popularly known for its nightclubs, restaurants, cool spots, jamborees and a variety of live shows. Elegushi Beach is a private beach located in Lekki, Lagos State. The beach is owned by the Elegushi Royal family. Entry into the beach costs 2000 naira per individual and can be discounted if you are going with a group.
The beach is among the top spots for tourism in Lagos State, Nigeria with its white sand beach and rippling tides that lap at the shoreline.
7. Visit the National Theatre
Located in Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos State, the National Theatre is the primary centre of performing arts in Nigeria. The construction of that monument was completed in 1976 in preparation for the 1977 Festival of Arts and Culture. The National Theatre was designed and constructed by the Bulgarian company, Techno Exporstroy.
The National Theatre, Lagos boasts a main hall, capable of seating about 5000 people and a banquet hall designed and equipped for conferences and banquets of international standards. The main ha offers a collapsible stage and an auditorium and is easily amenable to any directorial concept.