Abuja, Nigeria – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said its upcoming Food and Cultural Festival coming up in Nigeria is aimed at promoting food security, poverty alleviation and zero tolerance for hunger in 16 member countries. According to ECOWAS, the Food and Cultural Festival will hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from October 6 to 11, 2024.
The Director-General, ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival Felix Ihonre said this at the Preparatory Inter-Ministerial/Stakeholders Meeting where Stakeholders unveiled festival programmes in Abuja on Friday. He stated that the festival would convene key stakeholders in food security and the security sector to address the challenges that have hindered farming and agricultural production in Nigeria and other West African countries.
The Director-General said the theme of the upcoming ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festive titled, “Celebrating African cultural heritage for peace and development” was apt because there could be no development in an atmosphere of rancour and conflict.
Mr Ihonre also highlighted that hosting the festival would bring significant economic benefits to Nigeria. He said, “We are the host. We are the people that are to sell food for participants to eat. We are the people that are to give accommodation for participants to stay. Our drivers on the streets are there to carry passengers who will pay. Our hotels and airports will be busy and economic activities will be busy during this period. One of the greatest components of this is that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the Chairman of ECOWAS Commission.
“So, now that we have a Nigerian as the Chairman of ECOWAS, it is time for Nigeria to also benefit from hosting ECOWAS through this festival. We are welcoming to Uyo from October 6 to 11, 2024, the delegates from 15 member-countries of ECOWAS, delegates from around the world, heads of states and governments that will be coming to Abuja, as well as Uyo to grace the occasion.”
Mr Ihonre disclosed that activities such as golf tournament, train carnival, Miss ECOWAS Beauty Pageant and others had been scheduled for the festival. He said that there will be a forum of local government chairmen, permanent secretaries of MDAs as well as directors.
