By Onyeka Ezike
In a bid to redefine the tourism narrative of Nigeria, tourism enthusiast and patriot, Uche Emmanuel Chinonso, popularly known as Mr Nonso, has continued to showcase the Nigeria that deserves to be seen and experienced through his tourism initiative, Lagos Summer with Mr Nonso.
Mr Nonso, the Chief Executive Officer of Etravel, is widely known for marketing tourism destinations.
Beyond this, he is deeply passionate about promoting Nigeria as a preferred tourism destination and helping tourism enthusiasts actualise their dreams of exploring some of the country’s most remarkable attractions.
Saturday, August 22, will remain memorable for participants of the Lagos Summer with Mr Nonso.
The journey, which commenced at the Idiroko Bus Stop, brought together over 150 participants who travelled in a fully air-conditioned tour bus owned by the Lagos State Government.
With a carefully curated itinerary for the day, the tourists arrived at the Nike Art Gallery as their first destination.
Nestled in the heart of Lekki Phase 1, the impressive three-storey building, painted in white, houses more than 250,000 artworks from over 5,000 artists across Nigeria and Africa.
Founded by Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, the gallery has remained one of Lagos’ most iconic cultural landmarks and a major attraction for art lovers and tourists.
Some of the remarkable collections at the gallery include Adire textile masterpieces—hand-dyed indigo-patterned fabrics created using traditional Yoruba resist-dyeing techniques; Batik wall hangings—large-scale textile canvases that tell historical and cultural stories through melted wax and vibrant dyes; portraits and mixed-media works celebrating Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti; recycled mixed-media mosaics constructed from unconventional materials such as bottle tops, old film reels and aluminium cans; as well as appliqué and quilted cloth art created by local rural women mentored through the Nike Art Foundation.
One particularly striking artwork was Adeleke’s Horses in Motion, which depicts the complexities of life as a race.
The artwork conveys the message that life is not always an easy journey. Even on days when one feels like giving up or taking a break, others somewhere may be working harder to surpass them.
The world does not stop for anyone; people keep moving.
The work features seven horses in different colours racing towards the same destination.
Although they are not in the same position, they are all moving in the same direction, towards a common goal.
Speaking in an interview after the experience at the Nike Art Gallery, the Country Manager of RwandAir in Nigeria, Ginette Kadigiri, said she had lived in Nigeria for over a year and had visited the gallery more than 10 times.
According to her, every visit offers a refreshing experience.
“For every tourist who visits Nigeria, this should be one of the first stops. The creativity in this gallery is unique, and the fact that all these works are put together in one place is very inspiring.
“Even an artist who is lacking inspiration can visit this gallery and find a new source of creativity because of the beauty of the artworks. I also bring my visitors here, and they always appreciate the artworks and the creativity on display.”
Kadigiri noted that she had not encountered anything on such a scale in Rwanda.
“We do not have something as big as this in Rwanda. We have smaller art galleries, but I think this is the biggest I have ever seen. Having four floors filled with artworks is incredible.
“The major thing I love about this gallery is the way different people express their creativity in different ways. It is really calming.”
In a chat with Kayitare Dylan, a citizen of Rwanda, he described the experience as entirely new, especially as it was his first time in Lagos. “I love this experience because I was able to learn more about the country, its culture and its tribes. Every tribe is represented here, and I particularly love the Yoruba culture—the way they live, eat and dress.
“The artworks in the gallery capture the essence of Lagos. This experience will inspire me to replicate a similar impact in Kigali, Rwanda.”
The next destination was the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University, where members of the tour interacted with several remarkable artworks and artefacts.
The museum was founded by Prince Yemisi Shyllon, the Prince of Ake in Abeokuta, Ogun State, and is home to an impressive collection of Nigerian and African art.
One of the artefacts explored during the tour was the Gelede Headdress.
The tradition of Gelede masks originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria and celebrates the feminine spirits associated with Mother Earth.
The works are also connected to prayers for good harvests, fertility of the land and people, as well as divine intervention during periods of difficulty within the community.
Speaking about the success of the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Etravel and organiser of Lagos Summer with Mr Nonso, Uche Emmanuel Chinonso, said the positive response and participation from both Nigerians and expatriates had encouraged him to continue promoting tourism destinations across Nigeria.
“We always talk about promoting Destination Nigeria, but nobody is taking enough action. We have a lot to benefit from promoting Nigeria as a tourism destination,” he said.
“Tourism can also serve as a catalyst for tackling insecurity in Nigeria. Imagine having resorts along the stretch of the Benin-Ore Expressway. Those resorts would provide security for their businesses, employ youths from surrounding communities and work with the government to provide efficient security along that route.
“Imagine the vast land from Ore down to Asaba being filled with different resorts and tourism destinations. The insecurity along that road could reduce significantly.
“Just like we have in Ilashe, people have investments along that stretch, and there is hardly any insecurity. You can enter a boat, cross over and stay in a beach apartment with your family and friends while still feeling safe.”
Mr Nonso noted that he had observed a growing trend among Nigerians who spend significant amounts travelling abroad for vacations while overlooking remarkable destinations within their own country.
According to him, this observation gave birth to the vision for Lagos Summer with Mr Nonso.
“If you tell someone you are going to the Shyllon Museum, the idea might appear strange to them. They may not immediately see the fun and creativity involved. I decided to encourage people to prioritise Nigerian tourism, even with a small budget,” he said.
The event featured visits to the Nike Art Gallery and the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art at Pan-Atlantic University, a tie-and-dye workshop, a beach hangout and a bonfire night experience.
For the participants, it was an opportunity to dance, network, reconnect with old friends and colleagues, and create new memories.
Mrs Precious Praise described the experience as an opportunity to have fun, network with friends and step out of her comfort zone while creating beautiful memories. “I had so much fun. I met amazing people and enjoyed the bonding, energy and unity that were established among us,” she said.
Through initiatives such as Lagos Summer with Mr Nonso, Etravel is gradually unveiling a different side of Nigeria, one filled with culture, creativity, history, adventure and experiences waiting to be explored.
For Mr Nonso and the growing community of tourism enthusiasts, the message remains clear: Nigeria has beautiful destinations worth visiting, and sometimes, the best adventure begins closer to home.
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