The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed its commitment to promoting food security in the 16 ECOWAS countries, News About Nigeria reports.
The Director-General of ECOWAS, Ambassador Felix Ihonre, disclosed this while speaking at the Preparatory Inter-Ministerial/Stakeholders Meeting on ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival in Abuja on Friday.
He noted that the festival, which will be held soon in Nigeria, is aimed at promoting food security, poverty alleviation, and zero tolerance for hunger.
Ihonre disclosed that the festival will bring together key players in the food security and security structure to proffer solutions to security challenges that hindered farming and agricultural production in Nigeria and other West African countries.
He assured the people that Nigerians will benefit a lot from the festival, which is slated to be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from October 6 to 11, 2024.
He stated, “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 accommodations for participants to stay. Our drivers on the streets are there to carry passengers who will pay.
“Our hotels will be busy and airports will be busy and then all 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 Tinubu, is the same Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission.
“So, now that we have 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.
The theme of the ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival is “Celebrating African Cultural Heritage for Peace and Development.”
