Nigeria-China festival spotlights food sector's tourism potential

Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has identified the food and beverage sector as the largest sub-sector within the nation's tourism economy. Speaking at the Nigeria-China Food Festival in Abuja, Musawa, represented by Permanent Secretary Abdulkarim Ibrahim, emphasized gastronomy's potential to boost domestic tourism, generate employment, and enhance Nigeria's global cultural image.

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Importantly, gastronomy is tourism. The ministry’s recent tourism and creative industries mapping has identified food and beverage as the single largest sub-sector of Nigeria’s tourism economy, with culinary experiences and food culture serving as significant motivations for domestic travel.

A recent mapping of the tourism and creative industries revealed that culinary experiences and food culture are significant drivers for domestic travel. This finding reinforces the ministry's dedication to promoting Nigerian cuisine as a key element of the country's tourism identity and international cultural brand. Food festivals, in particular, offer valuable opportunities for chefs, entrepreneurs, and cultural practitioners to exchange knowledge and share Nigeria's story through its flavors.

The festival also served as a platform to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and China. Musawa urged both nations to deepen cooperation in gastronomy, tourism, hospitality, culinary education, and creative entrepreneurship, noting that cultural exchanges can fortify relationships. Zhou Hongyou, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, echoed this sentiment, stating that food acts as a bridge for cultural understanding between ancient civilizations with rich culinary traditions.

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As Nigeria and China celebrate 55 years of friendship, let us use food to open new doors of cooperation in gastronomy, tourism, hospitality, cultural exchange, culinary education and creative entrepreneurship.

Participants at the event enjoyed cultural performances, a photo exhibition on food traditions, a "bush bar," and a display of grilled skewers. The festival underscored the shared heritage and potential for collaboration, with China noting its significant imports from Nigeria, valued at approximately $2.3 billion.

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China and Nigeria are ancient civilisations with rich culinary traditions, adding that bringing both cuisines together provided an opportunity for both countries to learn more about each other.