A Culinary and Educational Experience

At the Taste of Abuja, to be hosted at the International Trade and Convention Centre, you can sample and enjoy the many different foods that Nigerians eat, getting a thorough gastronomic tour of the country’s many cultures. You can also learn about the various processes and methods – both traditional and contemporary – that Nigerians use in their cuisine. Meats, vegetables, wines, pastries, confectionary and more will all be on offer.

It is a family event. So, there is also a range of activities on offer for the kids, including games and a dancing competition. In the evenings, comedy and music performances are also on offer.

The Sheraton Abuja Hotel

Abuja is filled with great hotels that can host you during the Taste of Abuja. Why not go for the best of the best? The Sheraton Abuja Hotel is found on Ladi Kwali Way, Maitiama. This beautiful hotel is packed to the brink with amenities, and its central location allows it to be the perfect staging point for all sightseeing excursions and more adventurous activities. 

Nigeria’s Premier Jazz Festival

Launched with the aim of establishing Lagos as a vibrant global jazz tourism destination, the festival offers world-class entertainment for both visitors and Lagos residents. Boasting a number of headliners from the international world of jazz, it also provides local artists with an opportunity to show off their talents and jam with fellow musicians from abroad. In addition to an exciting roster of live performances, the festival also features lectures, workshops, educational materials and exhibitions, to aid the promotion of jazz as a historical and contemporary art form.

Music fans are sure to have an incredible few nights. In fact, the festival has never been known to disappoint! And, the music festival is guaranteed to attract many international visitors looking to enjoy the best jazz talent that Nigeria and the world have to offer.

The festival is hosted at Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos Island. This historic park was built to preserve the history and heritage of Nigerians. It makes a perfect backdrop for this celebration of music and culture.

The Sheraton Lagos

There are plenty of world-class hotels in Lagos that can offer you excellent places to lay your head after a long night of great music in Freedom Park. The Sheraton is foremost among these. It is a beautiful hotel located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, not far from Murtala Muhammed International Airport. It also boasts one of Lagos’s finest casinos – if perhaps you feel like trying your luck after attending the festival.

ICT4D 2020

The Information Communications Technology for Development (ICT4D) Conference is dedicated to the discussion of digital development. It brings together 900+ attendees from public, private and civil society organisations. What makes it even more exciting is that they are all committed, in one way or another, to the application of digital technology to development, humanitarian and conservation challenges.

As one of Africa’s leading economies, Nigeria is one of the largest markets for emerging technologies on the continent. It enjoys a massive penetration of mobile technology and internet use, and this offers  tremendous opportunities for employing digital innovations.

Abuja makes an excellent host for discussions on the subject, as a metropolitan city that is the home of Nigeria’s federal government, as well as embassies and other institutions and organisations. In addition, Nigeria has an urban population that is increasingly “plugged in” to global digital networks.

This year, the programme will once again feature many high profile speakers who will bring their expertise to bear on this crucial subject, namely, how rapid advances in technology can help to make the world a better place.

The Sheraton Abuja

So, where are you going to stay in Abuja this April while attending ICT4D 2020? One of the best hotels in Abuja, the Sheraton, is found on Ladi Kwali Way, Maitiama. This beautiful hotel is packed to the brink with amenities, and its central location allows it to be the perfect staging point for all sightseeing excursions and more adventurous activities. 

Restaurants in Lagos

There are hundreds of great restaurants in Lagos, ranging from street food and fast food franchises to world-class fine dining. Here are some top recommendations for having a great meal before the evening gets started in earnest.

Villa Medici: 
This popular spot in Victoria Island has developed its reputation over 15 years of consistent business. Enjoy fine European dining with a strong French influence.

Metisse: 
If you prefer some Asian flavours, then head to this great location at the AIM Plaza. Metisse successfully blends tastes and styles from across Asia.

Terra Kulture: 
Founded in 2004, Terra Kulture is a leading promoter of Nigerian culture, offering the best of local cuisine, from ofada rice to plantain and catfish. You can also admire the beautiful art on display, created by some of the city’s best artists.

Casinos

After dinner, it’s time for some gambling, and there are many great casinos in Lagos. Try these three:

• Federal Palace Casino, Sun International
• Jacaranda Casino
• Green Lion Casino

All of the above are amongst Nigerian Casinos’ top recommendations. They offer all the gaming options you would want, including American Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, 60 reel, video slot machines, progressive jackpot slots, Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em, Caribbean Poker, Three-Card Poker, Let It Ride Poker and Bingo.

Night Clubs

Once you’ve finished playing – and have hopefully won a few naira – it’s time to finish off the night by letting loose. Head to one of these famous Lagos nightspots:

Escape Nightlife: 
Good drinks, top DJs and an electric ambience.

Club 57: 
Open all week, Club 57 offers some of the finest cocktails in Lagos.

Nitro:
One of Lagos’s most exclusive nightclubs, Nitro offers wonderful ambience and excellent music. 

The Sheraton Lagos

At the end of the night (or the beginning of the morning), where will you head to get your rest? There are plenty of world-class hotels in Nigeria, the Sheraton foremost amongst them.

The Sheraton is a beautiful hotel located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, not far from Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Chase Restaurant Terrace and Cherry’s Bakery

Let’s start off with an attraction for the foodies. Chase is a well-established restaurant that is a favourite among locals and tourists alike. In particular, be sure to try the Lebanese and Chinese themed Sunday brunches. Just downstairs is the legendary Cherry’s Bakery, which offers pastries good enough for any Parisian pâtisserie.

Yankari National Park

This is actually well outside of Abuja but can be easily accessed from the city for a good weekend getaway. Spend a couple of days in nature, with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities, and take a dip in the Wikki Warm Springs.

Suleja and Zuma Rock

Zuma Rock is probably Abuja’s best-known landmark and is always worth a visit. It stands in a small town called Suleja, which is within the Federal Capital Territory. Suleja is known for its handmade, glazed pottery and also for the abandoned, supposedly haunted hotel that stands in the shadow of the rock.

Jos and Kaduna

These cities are about a three-hour drive out of Abuja. Jos is particularly beautiful, with its well-known museums and the highly recommended Cedar Tree restaurant and hotel.

Hiking and Camping

Abuja is home to a number of beautiful hills. You can take a guided hike up one of them and camp at the top, where you can enjoy both the stars and the city lights.

The People

Abuja offers an interesting view of Nigeria’s people. On the one hand, you can experience the local culture of the Hausa and other central and northern groups. On the other, you get a national and international melting pot, as you would expect from a capital city. Nigeria’s people are its true treasures! And, you will get a full experience of them here, as you are welcomed, guided and befriended around the city.

Nightlife 

Make no mistake, Abuja knows how to have a good time. Once the sun goes down and the lights come on, you have plenty of options for a good night out. Put on your glad rags, team up with a local friend or two and go and paint the town red!

The Sheraton Abuja

So, where are you going to stay in Abuja? Look no further than the Sheraton Abuja, found on Ladi Kwali Way, Maitiama. This beautiful hotel is packed to the brink with amenities, including some of the best gambling facilities in Abuja. In addition, its central location allows it to be the perfect staging point for all your tourist activities in the city and the surrounding areas.

From 27 February to 1 March, over 600 artists will present 100 theatrical events, ranging from traditional stage drama to stand-up comedy, dance and physical movement, spoken word and beat poetry, amongst other exciting artistic expressions.

The festival is managed by a not-for-profit organisation called the LTF Foundation. When the dates for the 2020 festival were announced, a representative of the Foundation told the press, “the Lagos Theatre Festival is aimed at promoting theatre in Nigeria. It is interested in works that are unique and can be adapted to unconventional spaces. We look forward to receiving applications from producers, directors and performers who are ready to think out of the box and eager to present works from a different genre of theatre.”

The festival has grown to become West Africa’s largest arts festival and is rapidly becoming an important event on the international arts calendar too. So, if you find yourself in Lagos this February, either on business or vacation, be sure to make a point of appreciating some great Nigerian theatre. You may even want to travel to the city specifically to see the shows – Lagos will be ready to receive you!

The Sheraton Lagos

If you do come to visit the Theatre Festival in February and are looking for fine hotels in Lagos, look no further than the Sheraton Lagos for some of the best accommodation the city has to offer. The Sheraton is a beautiful hotel located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, not far from Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Gambling

Feeling lucky? Abuja has an immense number of great casinos where you can test your skills and good fortune on the slot machines and roulette tables. Or, is a few hands of blackjack or poker more up your alley. Have a look at the casino at the Sheraton Abuja for starters, where you’ll find all this and much more!

National Monuments

If you’ve had enough of the casino and want to get out and about a little, why not visit a few of the capital’s national monuments? There’s the National Mosque, the National Christian Center, the unique Ministry of Defence building, the ECOWAS Secretariat building, and the National Library. Each is fascinating in its own way and offers great insight into Nigeria’s history and culture.

Rock Climbing

The outskirts of Abuja offer some great outdoor activities for the more athletic visitor. The city’s most famous natural landmark, Zuma Rock, is a favorite destination for rock climbers. For a good, challenging climb, with a wonderful view from the top, look no further.

Eat Out

From street food to five-star restaurants, Abuja offers a full spectrum of culinary experiences. Make a booking or just step out of your hotel and see what you can find.

Game Reserves

Although Nigeria’s main game reserves and national parks are outside of Abuja, the capital city does include the National Park Service and the National Children’s Park and Zoo if you are looking to appreciate some of Nigeria’s fauna and flora. While there is not enough space in this blog to detail all of the things you can do in Abuja, this should be a good start to whet your appetite. 

The Sheraton Abuja

So, where are you planning to stay while in the capital city? One of the best hotels in Abuja, the Sheraton Abuja is found on Ladi Kwali Way, Maitiama. This beautiful hotel is packed to the brink with amenities! And, best of all, its central location allows it to be the perfect staging point for all sightseeing excursions and more adventurous activities. 

What Is the Calabar Carnival?

It’s the biggest carnival in Africa, and includes a variety of overlapping festive events held throughout the month of December every year.

Where Does it Take Place?

It takes place in Calabar, also known as Canaan City, which is the capital of Cross Rivers State in south-eastern Nigeria. The city of Calabar lies near the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers, about 771 km to the east of Lagos, and it takes roughly 13 hours by road and 1 hour and 15 minutes by air to travel to. It is Nigeria’s 26th largest city by population. 

When and How Did it Start?

It all began in 2004 when the governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke, launched it as a stimulus for the local economy and tourism industry. His aim was to make Calabar the number one tourist destination for Nigerians. It was intended as a uniquely Nigerian event that would showcase and celebrate the local culture.

What Does it Consist Of?

The program is highly varied and includes a Cultural Carnival, Bikers Carnival, International Carnival and Street Party, as well as an ongoing schedule of family-oriented events in line with the festive season and the celebration of African cultures.

Is it Safe to Attend the Festival?

Safety is always a top concern for tourists, and the Cross Rivers State government assures visitors that security and safety are a top priority for them, particularly during the month of December.

Where Can You Stay?

Calabar has plenty of accommodation; however, it fills up quickly in advance of the carnival. If you haven’t yet booked your hotel in the city, you could even stay in one of the cities nearby, including Port Harcourt. Or, you could fit the carnival into your visit to Abuja or Lagos, the cities that are the most common destinations in Nigeria. If you’ve missed the boat to stay in Calabar, why not book a hotel in Lagos and take the short flight to visit the carnival during your stay?

The Sheraton Lagos

If you decide to stay in a Lagos hotel on your way to Calabar, look no further than the Sheraton Lagos for your accommodation. This is a beautiful hotel located on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Ikeja, not far from Murtala Muhammed International Airport. 

Central Park

Central Park is the main destination for leisure and letting loose in Abuja. There’s good food, a great, festive vibe, and activities such as go-karting and a paintball arena.

Kayaking

At the lake behind the national stadium, you can rent canoes and go for a paddle. While it is not exactly white water rafting, it does provide a pleasant morning or afternoon activity on a quiet, well-maintained lake.

Hiking and Camping

These are not pastimes you would usually associate with the capital, but don’t forget that Abuja is surrounded by many beautiful hills. You can set out for a guided hike up one of them. And, why not  then pitch your tent and spend the night on the summit? You can sleep under the stars and get the best view of the city.

Climbing Zuma Rock

If you’re more of an adrenaline junkie than an outing of hiking and gentle kayaking can satisfy, then you can climb Abuja’s most famous landmark. It has become quite a destination for rock climbers.

The Sheraton Abuja

One of the best Abuja Hotels on the market, the Sheraton Abuja is found on Ladi Kwali Way, Maitiama. This beautiful hotel is packed to the brink with amenities, and its central location allows it to be the perfect staging point for all sightseeing excursions and more adventurous activities.