Desperados Nigeria has rewarded five young Nigerians with an all-expense-paid trip to Ibiza, Spain, for the world-renowned Elrow Festival — a global benchmark for nightlife and creative party culture.

The winners were announced live on Saturday, 2 August, during a pulsating edition of Element House, the electronic dance music (EDM) series held at the Livespot Entertarium in Lekki, Lagos. The event brought together influencers, creatives, and music lovers for a night of bold lights, immersive visuals, and high-energy beats.

A Ticket to Ibiza’s World-Famous Elrow Festival

The five winners will soon travel to Spain to experience Elrow, a festival celebrated globally for its immersive, thematic, and highly theatrical parties. Over the years, Elrow has evolved into a symbol of creativity, diversity, and vibrant nightlife experiences.

By securing their spots at this global celebration, the winners will not only witness but also participate in an event that attracts thousands of party lovers worldwide.

Desperados’ Commitment to Gen Z

Speaking during the event, Onyebuchi Allanah, Senior Brand Manager, Flavored Portfolio, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said the initiative reflects the brand’s bold DNA.

“Desperados is all about bold experiences, and this gesture is giving young Nigerians a passport to global party culture. By taking five members of the Desperado Trybe to Ibiza for the Elrow Festival, we are showing once again why Desperados is the number one beer for the Gen Z’s, turning dreams into reality and putting Nigerian nightlife on the global stage.”

Cementing Desperados as Nigeria’s Gen Z Party Beer

The brand’s partnership with Element House is seen as a strategic step to strengthen its identity as the go-to flavored beer for Gen Z in Nigeria. With Element House growing as a platform for individuality, creativity, and connection, Desperados is positioning Nigerian youth at the heart of global nightlife conversations.

The event also underscored how Nigerian party culture continues to expand beyond borders, gaining international recognition in creative and entertainment circles.

Follow the Ibiza Journey

Desperados Nigeria has encouraged fans to follow the winners’ Ibiza adventure and festival highlights across its social media channels.

Updates will be shared via Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat using @desperadosng.

Nigeria has unveiled the Nigeria National Virtual Museum, a pioneering digital platform designed to make the country’s cultural heritage and artefacts accessible worldwide.

The launch ceremony, held in Lagos, was organised by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in collaboration with IHS Nigeria, a digital infrastructure provider. The event drew dignitaries, cultural custodians, technology leaders and tourism stakeholders, who hailed the project as a major leap in cultural preservation and digital tourism.

A defining moment in cultural history

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, described the initiative as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s cultural journey.

“This platform ensures that Nigeria’s priceless cultural artefacts, traditions and historical records are no longer confined to physical museum walls. We are creating a living archive that will inspire, educate and connect generations of Nigerians and the global community,” she said.

Musawa added that the virtual museum aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises harnessing technology to grow tourism, empower communities and safeguard cultural assets.

Immersive access to Nigeria’s past

The platform showcases over 200 artefacts from the National Museum Lagos, digitised through 3D scanning and enriched with educational content. Visitors can explore high-resolution images, interactive storytelling, and detailed historical records.

The NCMM explained that the virtual museum is designed to serve students, researchers, cultural enthusiasts and the Nigerian diaspora, providing borderless access to the country’s history.

It can be freely explored at www.museum.ng, and officials confirmed that exhibits will be updated regularly with new artefacts, expanded archives and additional educational content.

Technology meets heritage

The role of IHS Nigeria was widely acknowledged as crucial in bringing the project to life. By leveraging its expertise in digital infrastructure, the company provided the backbone for Nigeria’s first comprehensive digital museum.

Commenting on the partnership, officials said the initiative demonstrates the value of public-private collaboration in fostering innovation and cultural sustainability.

Plans are also underway to integrate the virtual museum with global tourism platforms, positioning Nigeria as a leader in digital cultural tourism in Africa.

A legacy for future generations

Closing the event, Musawa reaffirmed the government’s commitment to cultural preservation:

“This is not only a gift to our generation but a legacy for generations yet unborn. Our history will live, our stories will be told and our heritage will continue to shine as a beacon of pride for Nigeria and Africa.”

Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, has praised the launch of Tikera Africa’s The Village in Abuja, describing it as a landmark step in boosting Nigeria’s creative economy, empowering artisans, and safeguarding cultural heritage.

Speaking at the high-profile unveiling on August 12, Musawa said the initiative aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises job creation, youth empowerment, cultural diplomacy, and economic diversification.

“This initiative does not merely teach weaving, it transforms lives,” she said. “It preserves our heritage while giving women the tools to achieve economic independence. Our artisan communities are not relics of the past, they are living custodians of innovation and identity.”

A Vision for an Inclusive Creative Future

Founded by internationally acclaimed photographer and creative entrepreneur Bayo Omoboriowo, Tikera Africa is a Culture, Creative, and Media Industry (CCMI) enabler dedicated to building sustainable ecosystems through innovation, infrastructure, education, and policy advocacy.

The launch showcased a new women-led artisan empowerment programme, created in partnership with the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim. The programme will help underserved women turn traditional crafts like weaving into viable businesses, offering skills training, mentorship, and access to enterprise hubs.

Musawa also highlighted the Ministry’s successful partnership with Tikera Africa through the Reimagining Hope Residency, which has brought together Nigerian artists whose works blend heritage and contemporary expression. Many of these works are now part of the National Art Collection and displayed in government institutions and embassies globally.

From MADhouse to The Village

The Village builds on Tikera Africa’s MADhouse, established in 2023 at the University of Lagos, which has hosted dignitaries including Queen Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and former President of Mauritius Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.

The hub will offer cultural exchange, creative incubation, and enterprise development through flagship programmes such as:

Afri’talent Project – in partnership with the African Union and GIZ.

Lens-based Incubation Programme – featuring a $10,000 seed fund for emerging creatives.

Creative Leap Accelerator Programme (CLAP) – focused on entrepreneurial skills and global market readiness.

Reimagining Hope Residency – in collaboration with the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

“These initiatives are building a generation of African creatives who are not just dreamers, but builders, job creators, and global ambassadors of our culture,” Musawa stated.

A Call for Collaboration

The Minister urged greater cooperation between government, the private sector, academia, and civil society to unlock the creative industry’s full potential.

“Tikera Africa’s vision mirrors our national mission, to create an enabling environment where creativity, education, and enterprise work hand in hand to transform lives,” she said. “Together, we can reimagine an African ecosystem that honours our heritage while driving innovation, economic growth, and cultural pride.”