The Federal Government has called on stakeholders to list their September-to-December events on the national ‘Ember to Remember’ calendar.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, made the call at the ‘Ember to Remember’ National Private Sector and Stakeholders’ Conference organised by the ministry in partnership with MyCityApp.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference was with the theme, ‘From Celebration to Economic Growth — Unlocking Nigeria’s $100 Billion Tourism and Creative Economy Opportunity’.
The minister said Nigeria possesses the assets required to build a thriving tourism economy.
She listed culture, creativity, music, fashion, food, heritage, festivals and people among the assets capable of driving the sector.
Musawa, however, said the challenge was to convert those assets into jobs, investments and sustainable economic opportunities.
According to her, millions of Nigerians and visitors travel across the country between September and December, creating economic activities across several sectors.
She said the activities benefited aviation, transportation, hotels, restaurants, entertainment, retail, technology, artisans and local communities.
She said government could not build the tourism and creative economy alone, adding that the private sector must remain at the centre of the transformation.
Musawa urged organisers of festivals, concerts, exhibitions, food experiences, cultural celebrations, fashion events and sporting activities to list their events.
She also urged operators of tourism experiences, conferences and other major events scheduled for the period to populate the national calendar.
The minister further urged state governments to showcase their destinations and events, while hotels, tour operators, cultural institutions and creative entrepreneurs highlight their offerings.
She said the objective was to create a single, credible platform where Nigerians in the diaspora and international visitors could discover events and destinations.
She said more visibility would drive participation, spending and economic activity, while creating jobs and supporting businesses.
The minister said the initiative demonstrated what private-sector innovation and national purpose could achieve, adding that government would continue working with stakeholders.
Musawa said President Bola Tinubu’s administration was committed to expanding Nigeria’s economic base, creating jobs and positioning the private sector as a critical engine of growth.
She said unlocking the 100-billion-dollar tourism and creative economy opportunity required a coordinated ecosystem involving government and private-sector players.
She commended the Chief Executive Officer of MyCityApp, Mrs Ifeoma Mbonu, for her vision, persistence and commitment to developing the digital platform.
Also speaking, Mbonu said ‘Ember to Remember’ was designed to address the fragmentation of information about Nigeria’s festive-season activities.
She said the National Digital Calendar would bring events and experiences from across the country together on one platform.
Mbonu urged event organisers to upload their September-to-December events and experiences on MyCityApp to increase visibility and enable businesses and communities to benefit.
According to her, Nigeria has made substantial investments in culture, music, fashion, food, festivals, creativity and stories, but must now turn to extracting their economic benefits.
Mbonu said building a 100-billion-dollar tourism economy required collective responsibility from government, businesses, communities and other stakeholders.
Speaking on private-sector opportunities, the Chief Executive Officer of Landmark, Mr Paul Onwuanibe, described tourism as a major economic opportunity.
Onwuanibe said tourism should be treated as a national strategy rather than just entertainment, noting that ordinary assets could be turned into attractive destinations.
He identified streets, waterfronts, cultural sites, festivals, food and local experiences as assets capable of attracting visitors, generating revenue and creating jobs.
“The opportunity of a lifetime can only be realised in the lifetime of that opportunity,” he said.
Onwuanibe proposed a five-point approach that includes a single tourism investment window, a tourism investment fund and increased use of private-sector concessions.
He also advocated support for the wider tourism and creative ecosystem and the introduction of tourism education in schools. (NAN)
