NIHOTOUR unveils Oríkì: Nigeria’s cultural and culinary showcase to spotlight African excellence
By Maureen Aguta
The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), in partnership with Novarosta, has announced the global unveiling of Oríkì — an immersive cultural and culinary experience aimed at projecting Nigeria’s creative excellence and positioning the nation as a hub for African gastronomy and cultural tourism.
The landmark event will take place on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Eagle’s Square, Abuja, and is expected to attract global investors, culinary innovators, cultural icons, and policymakers from across Africa and the diaspora.
Celebrating Heritage Through Taste and Art
Drawing inspiration from the Yoruba tradition of Oríkì — the ancient art of praise poetry — the initiative reimagines heritage as performance and enterprise. Its essence is not limited to the Yoruba alone; it resonates across Nigeria’s cultures in expressions like Aha Otuto (Igbo), Kirari (Hausa), and Eré (Itsekiri).
For the first time, Oríkì will transcend oral tradition to become a live performance that fuses storytelling, music, and gastronomy. The showcase will feature indigenous dishes, creative reinterpretations of traditional recipes, and live poetic recitals, transforming Nigerian cuisine into a canvas of culture and innovation.
“Through Oríkì, we are transforming Nigeria’s cultural soul into a global experience — one that connects tradition with opportunity, and creativity with commerce,” says Dr Abisoye Fagade, Director-General, NIHOTOUR.
Driving Economic and Cultural Diplomacy
The Oríkì Experience aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reflecting NIHOTOUR’s mission to deploy culture and hospitality as engines of economic diversification, youth empowerment, and international engagement.
NIHOTOUR says the platform will serve not only as a showcase of heritage but also as a business and investment catalyst, inviting global stakeholders to explore Nigeria’s culinary and tourism potential.
The event will also mark the debut of the Cultural Gastronomy Investment Series, a NIHOTOUR-led initiative designed to attract both local and international investors to Nigeria’s hospitality value chain — from food processing and restaurant development to creative tourism and cultural exports.
“This is more than a showcase,” said a spokesperson for Novarosta. “It’s a bridge — linking food, art, and hospitality to open new channels for trade, education, and cultural exchange across the world.”
A Global Stage for African Creativity
The Abuja event will feature regional food pavilions, live culinary exhibitions, creative performances, and artistic displays from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Participating chefs and cultural entrepreneurs will interpret their heritage through gastronomy, offering visitors a taste of Nigeria’s diverse flavors and creative energy.
According to organizers, Oríkì seeks to position Nigeria as a global epicenter for culinary innovation, cultural exchange, and creative investment, leveraging the country’s rich diversity as a soft-power tool for diplomacy and economic growth.
Industry observers say the project arrives at a pivotal moment, as Africa’s culinary tourism sector gains global attention. With the continent’s cuisine influencing menus worldwide, Nigeria — home to over 250 ethnic culinary traditions — is seen as having the scale and creativity to lead the movement.