The Lagos State Government has officialized its support for the upcoming premiere of the feature film Black Market, scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the iconic Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Lagos Island.
The government announced the partnership in a post via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, August 30, 2026, following a strategic stakeholder meeting.
The production team led by Producer Nora Awolowo, Co-Producer/Executive Producer Omowunmi Dada, and Event Producer Damilola Osikoya met with the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, to formalize the request for institutional backing.
Event organizers revealed that the premiere is targeting an audience of 50,000 attendees. The massive gathering aims to set an official Guinness World Record for the largest audience at a single movie screening, attempting to break the current record of 43,000 people.
Speaking on the administration’s commitment, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka stated that supporting the initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda to bolster youth empowerment and expand the local creative economy:
“Lagos remains Nigeria’s leading hub for entertainment and creativity. We are committed to supporting initiatives that showcase our people’s talents, attract visitors, and further strengthen the State’s position as a preferred destination for tourism, arts, culture, and entertainment.”
Benson-Awoyinka advised the organizers to secure all necessary regulatory approvals across state agencies while maintaining international execution standards.
Reaffirming the state’s readiness, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila added that the ministry will provide inter-agency support to ensure the seamless execution of the record-breaking event.
Directed by Fatimah Binta Gimsay, Black Market features an ensemble cast including Lateef Adedimeji, Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Scarlet Gomez, Uzor Arukwe, and Omowunmi Dada.
