The Federal Government has unveiled a new digital platform, NITOUREY, aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and tourism destinations to global audiences.

The initiative, introduced at a press conference organised by the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, was described as a public-private partnership designed to project Nigeria’s diverse cultural assets.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, the Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, said the platform marked another step in repositioning Nigeria as a leading global destination for tourism, culture and creative excellence.

She explained that the digital project would harness the power of the creative economy and technology to amplify Nigeria’s cultural narratives while creating opportunities for young Nigerians, filmmakers, content creators and tourism operators.

Musawa said, “Today marks yet another significant step in our collective journey to reposition Nigeria as a leading global destination for tourism, culture and creative excellence.

“The initiative aligned with the administration’s economic diversification drive, noting that tourism had the potential to contribute significantly to national growth.

“President Bola Tinubu has a vision to use tourism as part of economic diversification and expansion, and NTDA can play a vital role in achieving that goal”.

She emphasised that NITOUREY would not only showcase destinations across the country but also create economic opportunities within the creative industry.

“Through this initiative, we are not only showcasing destinations across Nigeria but also creating opportunities for the creative industries, including filmmakers, content creators, tourism operators and young Nigerians within the creative economy,” she added.

The minister also stressed the importance of collaboration between government agencies, state governments and the private sector, noting that the platform was a PPP initiative designed to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism and creative sectors.

“This is a commendable PPP initiative that demonstrates the collaboration required to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism and creative industry,” she said.

She further assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy would continue to support initiatives that enhance Nigeria’s visibility, attract investment and create jobs.

In his remarks, the Director General of NTDA, Ola Awakan, described NITOUREY as a transformative platform that will redefine how Nigeria is presented to the world.

He emphasised that tourism thrives on perception, visibility, and storytelling, noting that the platform will collaborate with key institutions, including the Nigerian Film Corporation, National Film and Video Censors Board, and the National Information Technology Development Agency, to deliver high-quality content.

Awakan added that the initiative is powered by a strong public-private partnership involving TOURCLIQ Creatives Limited and JM MiSA International Limited, underscoring the importance of collaboration in unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s tourism and creative industries.

He further revealed that NITOUREY will spotlight iconic destinations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, including Zuma Rock, Yankari Resort and Safari, the Argungu Fishing Festival, Ngwo Pine Forest and Cave, Obudu Mountain Resort, and Olumo Rock, projecting them to a global audience.

The platform is expected to serve as Nigeria’s premier tourism streaming platform, projecting the country’s culture, creativity and destinations to both domestic and international audiences.

The STS Association is proud to announce the signing of a Liaison Agreement with the DLMS User Association (DLMS UA), marking a significant milestone in the evolution of interoperable, secure, and future-ready smart prepayment metering systems.

This collaboration brings together two of the world’s most widely adopted global standards — STS token technology and the DLMS/COSEM data model — with the shared objective of strengthening interoperability, enhancing smart prepayment capabilities, and delivering greater value across the global metering ecosystem.

The DLMS User Association is a globally recognised authority in interoperable and secure data exchange, providing a strong foundation for innovation in energy and water management. Its DLMS/COSEM protocol and data model are widely adopted and supported by major international standardisation bodies, making it a key enabler of modern smart metering systems.

Through this liaison, the STS Association and DLMS UA will work closely to ensure that STS tokens can be seamlessly transported using the DLMS/COSEM protocol and data model. This includes the development of supporting specifications, mappings, and technical enhancements required to integrate STS token functionality within DLMS Generic Companion Profiles.

Both organisations will align their development roadmaps to ensure that advancements in token technology and data exchange evolve in a coordinated and complementary manner. In parallel, joint efforts will focus on market education, technical documentation, and awareness initiatives to clearly communicate the benefits of integrating STS prepayment with DLMS-based communication frameworks.

While electricity metering remains a primary focus, the collaboration also supports expansion into broader multi-utility applications, including water, gas, and time metering. This reinforces the relevance of both standards in enabling flexible, scalable, and future-ready utility infrastructures.

The STS Association will showcase this collaboration at the Power & Water Nigeria 2026 event between the 28^th and 30^th April at the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. We will be.

The event will provide a platform to engage with utilities and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, to demonstrate how the integration of STS and DLMS/COSEM is shaping the future of smart metering, while offering practical insights into implementation and deployment.

This strategic alignment reinforces a shared commitment to open standards, long-term sustainability, and the delivery of secure, interoperable solutions that support utilities and consumers in an increasingly digital and connected world.

Latest data report from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has pegged Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) Database at 67.8 million registrations (27.97% of the country’s population) following a steady growth streak over the last five years.

NIBBS, which manages the BVN infrastructure for Nigeria’s financial ecosystem, revealed that BVN registrations jumped from 63.5 million in 2024 to 67.8 million by the end of 2025, representing a 4.3 million increase in a year.

The latest NIBBS data reveals a consistent upward trend across the last five years, supporting the rhetoric that the Bank Verification Number has become a major protocol for accessing financial services in the country. The enrollment figures over the last five years, according to NIBBS, are as follows.

The increase represents an estimated 6.8 per cent year-on-year growth between 2024 and 2025, one of the highest leaps over the last 5 years.

The Driving Force Behind the Increased BVN Enrollment

Analysts pinpoint the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policies and enforcement procedures as the primary driver of the five-year upward trend in BVN enrollment.

Some of the most efficient CBN policies behind the surge include the directive to restrict or freeze bank accounts lacking both a BVN and a National Identification Number (NIN), effective from April 2024.

The directive caused a stir, prompting many Nigerians to register for BVN to maintain uninterrupted financial services.

The introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative enabled Nigerians living abroad to obtain a BVN remotely, eliminating the need to be physically present in Nigeria.

The NRBVN programme was a game-changer, bringing the weight of the Nigerian diaspora to the fore. Its successful integration served as a significant milestone in efforts to deepen financial inclusion and formally integrate the Nigerian diaspora into the country’s financial ecosystem.