… Commissioner Recounts Lagos’ Ebola, COVID-19 Response, Links Recovery to Art
… Festival Debuts in Lagos With Week-Long Activities Blending Creativity, Health
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has underscored the therapeutic role of art in healing, wellness and public health, describing it as a powerful tool for social and behavioural change in the healthcare system.
Speaking at the welcome cocktail soiree of the maiden Lagos Arts and Health Festival held at the Soto Art Gallery, Ikoyi, on Sunday evening, Prof. Abayomi noted that Lagos was adopting a multidimensional approach to healthcare delivery by embedding art into infrastructure design, patient care and health communication.
Recounting his personal experience, the Commissioner revealed that art helped him decompress during his gruelling medical residency in the UK and later inspired his intervention during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. He explained that traumatised survivors in Sierra Leone and Liberia were only able to donate lifesaving serum after undergoing art therapy sessions.
Prof. Abayomi said the same approach proved valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when isolation centres in Lagos were infused with paintings, music, poetry and creative activities under the state-backed “Art for Life” initiative. “It was so amazing what Art for Life did during COVID-19, patients found hope in music, murals and poetry when human contact was cut off,” he said.
He added that the state government was now deliberately designing new facilities such as the Massey Children’s Hospital with architectural and artistic flair, while also using graphics and animation to drive social behavioural change in preventive healthcare campaigns. “When you walk into a bright, art-inspired hospital, healing begins even before treatment,” the Commissioner emphasised.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the Festival Director, Mrs. Iniabasi Leye, described the initiative as a dream come true for Lagos, noting that similar events had been staged in Brazil, Zimbabwe, London and Qatar. “Tonight marks the beginning of the Lagos Arts and Health Festival 2025. We are excited to host it here for the first time,” she declared.
She expressed delight at the turnout of distinguished guests and called on participants to immerse themselves in the week-long festival, which will run from August 24th to 30th, with both virtual and physical events across the city.
Mrs. Leye said the festival was aimed at creating a platform where art and health could meet, speak and heal, stressing that art remained a powerful tool for human connection and wellbeing.
Also speaking, the Advisory Board Chair of the festival, Ms. Aduke Gomez commended Lagos for hosting the pioneering edition, noting that the city’s energy and vibrancy made it a natural choice. She described arts-in-health as “an innovative approach to wellness that promotes prevention and recovery.”
According to her, art in its various forms; from music to dance, gardening and journaling, has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve dementia care, and enhance the quality of life for people with chronic conditions. “Even in hospitals, art provides beauty for the eyes, guidance for patients, and relief for caregivers,” she observed.
Ms. Gomez unveiled the week-long programme which includes an art exhibition, drug abuse therapy sessions, men’s and women’s health dialogues, creative ageing discussions, a blood drive, research paper presentations, and a children’s event on disability awareness.
She urged Lagosians to take part in the festival’s diverse sessions both online and physically, noting that the initiative would help embed wellness practices into everyday life.
The Lagos Arts and Health Festival, a city-wide event, is being hosted in partnership with the Lagos State Government and Global South Arts and Health. Organisers said the festival would showcase how creativity can be harnessed as a therapeutic and developmental tool.
With its blend of exhibitions, therapy sessions, academic discussions and cultural showcases, the festival is expected to position Lagos as a hub for innovation in integrating art into healthcare delivery in Africa.
