FG unveils MyCityApp to drive Nigeria's $100bn tourism ambition
The Federal Government has unveiled MyCityApp, a Nigerian city discovery and tourism platform designed to bring festivals, concerts, cultural activities and lifestyle experiences together on a single digital calendar.
The platform was launched on Monday at the Ember2Remember National Stakeholders’ Conference in Victoria Island, Lagos, marking the commencement of the 100-Day Tourism Calendar initiative aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s estimated $100 billion tourism and creative economy potential.
The conference brought together public and private sector stakeholders to explore ways of transforming the September-to-December festive season into a major driver of employment, investment and economic growth.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said the initiative would help Nigeria maximise the economic opportunities created by the large number of visitors who travel across the country during the festive period.
Musawa explained that tourism spending creates a wide-reaching value chain involving aviation, transportation, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, retail, technology, artisans and local communities.
“This initiative is about moving beyond the traditional concept of a festive season. It is about deliberately organising, packaging, promoting, and monetising one of the most economically active periods in our national calendar,” she said.
The minister commended MyCityApp Chief Executive Officer, Ifeoma Chukwu, for her vision and commitment to the initiative.
She also urged state governments, event organisers, tourism operators, hospitality businesses and other stakeholders to add their events to the national Ember2Remember calendar covering September to December.
According to Musawa, the platform will provide a centralised avenue for Nigerians, members of the diaspora and international visitors to discover events and experiences taking place across the country.
“We want to create a single, credible, and compelling platform through which Nigerians, the diaspora, and international visitors can discover what is happening across Nigeria,” she added.
Earlier, Chukwu described Nigeria’s cultural heritage and creative sector as a major economic opportunity, insisting that the country can achieve its $100 billion tourism ambition.
She referenced the significant contribution of tourism to the economies of countries such as Spain, France and the United States, arguing that Nigeria should similarly harness its cultural assets and visitor economy.
“So, the question is not whether a $100 billion tourism economy is possible. It is: why not Nigeria?” Chukwu said.
The event was attended by the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka; Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke; National Council for Arts and Culture Director-General, Obi Asika; National Gallery of Art Director-General, Ahmed Sodangi; Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria Director-General, Olalekan Fadolapo; and MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, among other stakeholders.
MyLagosApp and MyCityApp will serve as the digital engines for the 100-Day Tourism Calendar, using a 360-degree media ecosystem to promote events and experiences to audiences in Nigeria and abroad.
Organisers have urged stakeholders to upload their September-to-December events on MyCityApp.io to make them accessible to potential visitors and tourists.
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