FG to unveil digital platform showcasing tourism events nationwide
August 20, 2026 10:10 pm
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa. Photo: X / @hanneymusawa
The Federal Government has unveiled plans for a national digital platform that will enable Nigerians, members of the diaspora and international tourists to discover festivals, concerts, cultural celebrations, hospitality businesses and other tourism experiences across the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative, known as Ember to Remember 2026, is being developed by the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy in partnership with MyCityApp Nigeria as part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s September-to-December festive period into a coordinated national tourism season.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday, saying the initiative was designed to address the lack of coordination and visibility around Nigeria’s numerous cultural and tourism experiences.
According to Musawa, the initiative will be anchored by a National Digital Events and Experiences Calendar, which will provide a single platform for discovering tourism and entertainment activities across the country.
She said, “What has been missing is a deliberate structure that brings these experiences together, gives them visibility, and allows us to market them as one powerful national story. That is what Ember to Remember seeks to achieve.”
The minister said Nigeria had the cultural wealth, festivals, food, music, fashion, heritage and creative energy needed to compete in the global tourism market, but needed to package and market these assets more strategically.
She added that the festive season should not be regarded merely as a period of entertainment but as an opportunity to stimulate economic activity and create jobs across multiple sectors.
“When hotels fill up, restaurants, transport operators, tour guides, retailers and event businesses benefit; when festivals attract visitors, communities benefit,” she said.
The National Digital Events and Experiences Calendar will be formally unveiled at the Ember to Remember National Stakeholders Conference scheduled for September 14, 2026, in Lagos.
The initiative is expected to bring together festivals, concerts, cultural celebrations, food experiences, fashion, nightlife, hospitality establishments and destination attractions under a coordinated September-to-December tourism programme.
The Chief Executive Officer of MyCityApp, Ifeoma Mbonu, said the platform would power the national calendar and enable users to find out what was happening across Nigeria from September through December.
“Every visitor who attends an event contributes to airlines, hotels, transport, restaurants, tourism, retail and local businesses. By connecting to these experiences, we can attract more visitors, support businesses, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s tourism economy,” she said.
The Federal Government’s initiative comes as Nigeria’s December festive season continues to attract large numbers of diaspora visitors and generate significant economic activity, particularly in Lagos.
A March 2026 report on the 2025 festive season said visitors from the United States and United Kingdom were among the leading sources of diaspora arrivals to Lagos, with diaspora spending contributing significantly to the city’s hospitality and tourism economy.
The Federal Government is now seeking to extend the concentration of tourism activity beyond December by encouraging visitors to arrive earlier and explore destinations outside Lagos.
The Ember to Remember programme is consequently being positioned as a 100-day national tourism season running from September to December, bringing together tourism, entertainment, hospitality, transportation, commerce and the wider creative economy.
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.
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