LThe Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA), Olayiwola Awakan (GrPr), joined key industry leaders at a world press conference in Abuja to announce the Mega Renewed Hope NIHOTOUR Gastronomy Festival, set to hold on Saturday, 6th December 2025, at the Cilantro Event Centre.
The briefing was hosted by Aare (Dr.) Abisoye Fagade, Director General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), who described the festival as a landmark cultural event designed to spotlight Nigeria’s culinary excellence and expand tourism through food culture.
This year’s edition, themed “Oriki: Taste of Culture 2025,” will feature a Guinness World Record attempt for the world’s longest dining table, positioning Nigeria on the global stage and reinforcing its push to develop gastronomy-driven tourism experiences.
Speaking at the event, Awakan emphasized that the festival aligns with the national outlook on cultural preservation, creative economy expansion, and tourism diversification, noting that Nigerian cuisine remains one of the country’s strongest cultural exports.
The press conference was attended by the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, along with senior government officials, creative industry leaders, hospitality stakeholders, and cultural ambassadors.
Musawa highlighted the festival as a strategic platform to create new jobs, boost local food enterprises, and encourage domestic and international tourism. She added that events of this scale reinforce Nigeria’s identity, creativity, and global cultural influence.
The Mega Gastronomy Festival is expected to draw thousands of local and international participants, showcase regional culinary traditions, empower young chefs, and foster investment opportunities within the creative tourism value chain.
