The Federal Government has scheduled the Ember to Remember National Stakeholders Conference for September 14 in Lagos as part of efforts to position tourism and the creative economy as stronger contributors to national growth.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musa Musawa said the conference would bring together government agencies, state tourism authorities, financial institutions, airlines, hospitality companies, event organisers, creatives, technology firms and media organisations.
The meeting will support the launch of a coordinated national calendar of festivals, concerts, cultural celebrations, conferences and tourism experiences across Nigeria.
Musawa said the programme was intended to move beyond isolated events and create a more structured tourism economy.
Ember to Remember will cover the period from September to December as a 100 day national tourism season.
The government wants the programme to connect culture, hospitality, transportation, entertainment, commerce and the creative sector.
Musawa said the objective was to market Nigerian food, music, fashion, heritage, destinations and hospitality as parts of one coherent national tourism story.
The conference will examine aviation, transport, digital infrastructure, investment, hospitality and the visitor experience.
Government said partnerships with private companies would play an important role.
MTN Nigeria is expected to support wider public access to the tourism calendar through its MyCityApp platform, while Providus Bank has been recognised for its interest in financing tourism and creative sector development.
Musawa said the conference should be judged by its ability to convert cultural and tourism assets into measurable economic activity rather than by the number of participants or speeches delivered.
