Creative Industry
‘NEW GATE’ Art Exhibition Opens in Abuja, Celebrating Pakistan-Nigeria Cultural Bond
Joel Ajayi
The ‘NEW GATE’ Art Exhibition, a vibrant showcase of cultural harmony and creative brilliance, was officially inaugurated on Saturday by His Excellency Major General (Retd) Sohail Ahmad Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria.
The ceremony took place at the High Commission of Pakistan in Abuja and marked a significant milestone in the growing cultural collaboration between Pakistan and Nigeria.
In his keynote remarks, the High Commissioner emphasized the unifying power of art as a bridge for cross-cultural understanding, peacebuilding, and the promotion of Pakistan’s rich artistic legacy.
He described the exhibition as “a testament to the enduring friendship and shared values between the peoples of Pakistan and Nigeria.”
The exhibition, organized in celebration with Anila’s Art Addiction Gallery, prominently featured the works of celebrated curator and artist Anila Adnan, who received a commemorative shield in recognition of her leadership and artistic contribution.
Her thoughtful curation, which creatively intertwined Pakistani and Nigerian artistic elements, presented a powerful narrative of unity in diversity.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Mama Nike, Nigeria’s renowned artist and cultural icon, served as the chief guest. In her remarks, she praised the exhibition for its spirit of cultural fusion and artistic excellence.
A major highlight of the evening was the electrifying performance by the Wazobia Dancers, whose colorful and energetic display of traditional Nigerian dance thrilled the audience and brought the event to life. The rhythmic beats and cultural expression captured the essence of the evening’s theme — unity through the arts.
The event attracted a diverse gathering, including members of the diplomatic corps, art lovers, dignitaries, and representatives from both the Pakistani and Nigerian communities.
Attendees were treated to an immersive cultural experience that underscored the potential of art to inspire dialogue and strengthen international ties.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until July 2, 2025, at the Pakistan High Commission, Abuja.
Creative Industry
FG Backs MyCityApp Launch of 100-Day Tourism Calendar to Drive $100bn Economic Growth
Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind the launch of MyCityApp, a Nigerian city discovery and tourism platform designed to aggregate festivals, concerts, cultural events and lifestyle experiences into a single digital calendar.
The platform, which flags off the 100-Day Tourism Calendar, was unveiled on Monday at the Ember2Remember National Stakeholders’ Conference in Victoria Island, Lagos, with the initiative targeting Nigeria’s estimated $100 billion tourism and creative economy opportunity.
In a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Media and Publicity Adviser to the Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the ministry said the conference was aimed at mobilising public and private stakeholders to transform the September-to-December festive period into jobs, investment and economic growth.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Minister, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said millions of visitors travel across Nigeria every year to celebrate, reconnect and experience the country’s diverse culture, stressing that the festive season could be deliberately organised and monetised to strengthen tourism’s contribution to the economy.
“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,” Musawa said.
She noted that every visitor generates economic activity across several sectors, including aviation, transportation, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, retail, technology, artisans and local communities.
The Minister commended MyCityApp Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ifeoma Chukwu, for her vision and commitment to the initiative.
She urged state governments, event organisers, tourism operators, hospitality businesses and other stakeholders to list their festivals, concerts, exhibitions, food experiences, cultural celebrations, fashion and sporting events on the national calendar.
Musawa said the platform would enable Nigerians, members of the diaspora and international visitors to discover tourism and entertainment experiences across the country from a single, credible source.
Earlier, Chukwu said Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and creative sector provided enormous opportunities for tourism-driven economic growth.
She cited the contributions of tourism to the economies of countries such as Spain, France and the United States, arguing that Nigeria could equally build a $100 billion tourism economy.
Also present were Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka; Enugu State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ugochi Madueke; NCAC Director-General, Obi Asika; National Gallery of Art Director-General, Ahmed Sodangi; ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo; and MTN Nigeria CEO, Dr Karl Toriola.
MyLagosApp and MyCityApp will serve as the digital engines of the calendar, distributing events through a 360-degree media ecosystem to audiences in Nigeria and the diaspora.
Stakeholders were encouraged to upload their events on MyCityApp to participate in the national tourism calendar urging them to upload events on http://www.MyCityApp.io.
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