Creative Industry

FG Eyes Guinness World Record with 3.6km Longest Dining Table at Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Mega Event

Published

12 months ago

November 6, 2025

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Government has announced plans to attempt a Guinness World Record for the longest dining table in the world, a 3.6-kilometre setup expected to seat between 2,000 and 3,000 participants, during the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival slated for December in Abuja.

The ambitious initiative was unveiled on Thursday at a joint world press briefing addressed by the Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, and the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa.

This year’s festival, themed “Oriki: Taste of Culture,” will celebrate Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage while advancing economic opportunities across the hospitality and creative sectors — aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Dr. Fagade disclosed that the record-breaking attempt will take place on the morning of December 6, after which the table will be transformed into a communal dining space later in the day.

“We plan to break the record in the morning of December 6 and use the same table for a dining event later. There will be food, culture, music, and comedy in the evening. It will show that Abuja can also host major cultural events in December,”
he said.

He added that the initiative is part of NIHOTOUR’s broader strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s tourism value chain through skills development, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment, while attracting investors and expanding business prospects in food, hospitality, and agribusiness.

Speaking at the briefing, Minister Hannatu Musa Musawa described the event as a strategic platform for economic inclusion and youth participation in the creative economy.

“When we talk about economic growth and youth development, gastronomy plays a role just like film, music, and fashion. People eat every day, and Nigeria has made significant progress in showcasing its food globally,”
she noted.

Musawa also highlighted how Nigerian cuisine continues to enhance cultural diplomacy, emphasizing the creativity of Nigerian chefs and food entrepreneurs who have deepened the country’s global cultural footprint.

The week-long festival will feature culinary masterclasses, food tastings, exhibitions, cultural displays, and investment dialogues, attracting local and international stakeholders.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to formally unveil the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival and the Guinness World Record attempt in Abuja.

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Creative Industry

NTDA, LEXLUC Sign MoU to Unlock Nigeria’s Domestic Tourism Potential

Published

3 hours ago

October 23, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Ogar

The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd. to promote domestic tourism, cultural heritage and destination awareness across Nigeria.

The agreement establishes a framework for implementing and expanding the Meet My Town, Know My State tourism initiative, which aims to encourage Nigerians to explore destinations within the country, learn about their cultural heritage and support greater community participation in tourism.

Speaking at the signing, Chief Executive Officer of LEXLUC Global Services and Tours Ltd., Mr Oluwole Ajayi, said the initiative was developed to help Nigeria harness its tourism potential, attract investment and create more opportunities within the sector.

“Tourism is number one employer worldwide. Whether we like it or not, we have to key into it and make sure it becomes the number one employer in Nigeria, too,” Ajayi said.

He also referenced plans for a proposed West African Jollof Rice Championship and Tourism Festival, which he said could complement the initiative’s broader objectives. The proposed event is expected to form part of future tourism activities, subject to the necessary planning and approvals.

Ajayi expressed confidence that the collaboration with NTDA would help advance the initiative and attract investors to Nigeria’s tourism industry.

Director-General of NTDA, Mr Ola Awakan, said the partnership alignes with the authority’s mandate to promote and develop tourism, noting that collaboration with the private sector was important to the sector’s growth.

“It’s a laudable project. We are going to give you national and institutional backing. You are also helping us achieve our mandate, and we are helping you to bring your idea to fruition. So, it is a win-win situation. All of this is in the interest of Nigeria,” Awakan said.

He commended Ajayi for sustaining the initiative and reaffirmed NTDA’s commitment to supporting its objectives within the authority’s mandate.

The Meet My Town, Know My State initiative is designed to raise awareness of Nigeria’s destinations, promote cultural heritage and encourage domestic travel. Its activities may include organised tours, tourism education, awareness campaigns, events and stakeholder engagements across the country.

Under the MoU, LEXLUC will coordinate and implement approved activities, develop tourism packages, mobilise sponsorship and partnerships, and report on progress. NTDA will provide relevant tourism information, institutional coordination, policy guidance and support for stakeholder engagement, subject to its mandate and applicable approval processes.

The signing was coordinated by Head of Legal Services at NTDA, Olufunke Soleye, and Head of Legal at LEXLUC, Mary Oluwatoyin Noibi-Edoze. Director of the Marketing and Promotions Department at NTDA, Mr Olufemi Akinyele, was also present alongside staff members of the department.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two organisations to expand awareness of Nigeria’s tourism offerings and encourage greater participation in domestic tourism.

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