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.

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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.

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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.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria