The Federal Government of Nigeria has endorsed the launch of MyCityApp, a Nigerian city discovery and tourism platform. The app aims to bring different tourism products like festivals, concerts, and other leisure activities under a single digital calendar. This initiative was launched to coincide with the 100-Day Tourism Calendar at the Ember2Remember National Stakeholders’ Conference in Lagos.
The Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musa Musawa, has expressed the government's commitment to transforming Nigeria's cultural and creative assets into sustainable economic value. She identified music, fashion, cuisine, festivals, heritage, hospitality, and Nigeria's creative talent as key assets capable of attracting domestic and international visitors. Musawa emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between government and businesses to achieve this goal.
Musawa noted that the September to December period sees increased travel by Nigerians and called for state governments, event organizers, hotels, tour operators, cultural institutions, and private businesses to get enlisted in the calendar. This will create a central platform for Nigerians, members of the diaspora, and international visitors to discover experiences across the country. The minister stressed that the tourism, cultural, and creative economy has the capacity to deliver broad-based growth.
The MyCityApp aims to move Nigeria from a seasonal celebration economy to a year-round tourism and creative economy, creating opportunities for young Nigerians, strengthening businesses, and attracting investment. Musawa commended MyCityApp Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ifeoma Chukwu, for birthing the initiative, saying the partnership was an example of how private-sector innovation could advance national economic objectives.
The CEO of MyCityApp, Ifeoma Chukwu, said that building a $100 billion tourism economy in Nigeria might sound ambitious, but the evidence shows it is achievable. She cited examples of countries like Spain, France, and the United States, where tourism has contributed significantly to their economies. Chukwu emphasized that Nigeria is rich in culture and has one of the world's most vibrant creative industries.
Chukwu explained that the MyCityApp and MyLagosApp serve as the digital engine for the National Digital Calendar, bringing events and experiences across Nigeria into one place and pushing them through a 360-degree media ecosystem to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. This aims to close the gap between fragmented event information and potential visitors.
The Federal Government's endorsement of MyCityApp is part of its initiative to unlock the $100 billion opportunity in tourism and the creative economy. The government will focus on creating the enabling environment through policy, infrastructure, security, destination development, and ease of movement, while the private sector drives investment and innovation.
Key points
- The Federal Government of Nigeria has endorsed MyCityApp to boost tourism and unlock a $100 billion opportunity in the sector.
- The app aims to bring different tourism products under a single digital calendar, creating a central platform for visitors to discover experiences across the country.
- The government and private sector will collaborate to create an enabling environment and drive investment and innovation in the tourism sector.
