The Federal Government has announced a 100-day national tourism season, “Ember to Remember 2026,” scheduled to run from September to December.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, saying the initiative was designed to bring together Nigeria’s cultural, tourism and creative experiences under a coordinated national programme.
Musawa said the campaign would be formally launched and the national tourism calendar unveiled on September 14, 2026, at the Ember to Remember National Stakeholders Conference at Eko Hotel, Lagos.
The minister said the initiative would connect culture, tourism, entertainment, hospitality, transportation, commerce and the creative economy as part of efforts to build an economic ecosystem around Nigeria’s tourism experiences.
She noted that although December had become associated with Nigeria’s tourism and homecoming activities, the country’s festivals, food, music, fashion, heritage and hospitality experiences existed throughout the year.
According to her, the challenge had been the absence of a deliberate structure to bring the experiences together, promote them and present them as a unified national tourism offering.
Musawa said the initiative would provide “one country, one calendar, one unforgettable season” as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its tourism economy.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of MyCityApp, Ifeoma Mbonu, said the platform would power the National Digital Events and Experiences Calendar.
Mbonu said the digital platform would enable Nigerians, members of the diaspora and international visitors to discover events and experiences across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
She urged event organisers across the country to upload their events to the platform to ensure that they are included in the national calendar.
According to Mbonu, the initiative would create economic opportunities by connecting visitors with airlines, hotels, transport operators, restaurants, retailers, tourism businesses and other service providers.
She said the objective was not merely to create an events calendar but to use tourism and cultural experiences to attract visitors, support businesses and create jobs.
The National Stakeholders Conference scheduled for September 14 will bring together government representatives, state tourism authorities, private-sector operators, financial institutions, airlines, hospitality companies, event producers, creatives, technology firms and the media.
Other stakeholders at the announcement included the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Abisoye Fagade; the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Olayiwola Awakan; Providus Bank’s Head of Private Banking, Abuja and North Region, Silely Lothan; and MTN General Manager, Operations, David Ogunsola.
