The Nigerian federal government has officially endorsed MyCityApp, a new digital platform designed to consolidate festivals, concerts and other leisure activities into a single city‑wide calendar. The launch coincided with the 100‑Day Tourism Calendar at the Ember2Remember National Stakeholders’ Conference in Lagos, signalling a push to unlock a $100 billion opportunity in tourism and the creative economy.
Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy Mrs Hannatu Musa Musawa highlighted the surge in domestic travel from September to December and urged stronger collaboration between government and private businesses. She said the sector’s assets – music, fashion, cuisine, festivals, heritage, hospitality and creative talent – could attract both domestic and international visitors and generate significant economic activity.
Musawa called on state governments, event organisers, hotels, tour operators, cultural institutions and other private enterprises to join the calendar, creating a central platform for Nigerians, the diaspora and overseas tourists to discover experiences across the country. “Tourism and creativity are not just entertainment; they are serious economic sectors that can attract investment, create jobs and boost GDP,” she said.
“The government will focus on policy, infrastructure, security, destination development and ease of movement, while the private sector must drive investment and innovation,” Musawa added.
She praised MyCityApp’s chief executive, Mrs Ifeoma Chukwu, for launching the initiative and noted that the partnership exemplifies how private‑sector innovation can advance national economic goals. Chukwu said building a $100 billion tourism economy is achievable, citing Spain’s $270 billion contribution to its GDP, France’s $289 billion and the United States’ $2.5 trillion from tourism.
Chukwu explained that the app, together with MyLagosApp, serves as the digital engine for the National Digital Calendar, bringing events and experiences from all over Nigeria into one place and distributing them through a 360‑degree media ecosystem. “The gap we want to close is the fragmented information about events between September and December,” she said, “and that is why we created Ember2Remember.”
With the federal endorsement, the ministry aims to shift Nigeria from a seasonal celebration economy to a year‑round tourism and creative economy, creating opportunities for young people, strengthening businesses and attracting investment across multiple sectors.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
