The Economic Community of West African States Food and Cultural Festival has said its upcoming festival holding in Nigeria is aimed at promoting food security, poverty alleviation and zero tolerance for hunger in 16 ECOWAS countries.

The Director-General, Felix Ihonre, said this at the Preparatory Inter-Ministerial/Stakeholders Meeting on ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival in Abuja on Friday.

The ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival is scheduled to hold in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from October 6 to 11, 2024.

Mr Ihonre said that the festival would 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 added that Nigeria being the host of the festival would stand to gain a lot of economic benefits.

According to him, being the host alone, Nigerians are going to benefit from the festival.

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.”

The director-general said activities such as a golf tournament, train carnival, Miss ECOWAS Beauty pageant and others had been lined up for the festival.

“We are having activities in the area of a golf tournament. We will be having a flow train carnival and men and youth forum.
We will be having a forum of local government chairmen, permanent secretaries of MDAs as well as directors.

“We will be having the Miss ECOWAS Beauty pageant which is going to showcase ECOWAS beauty as well as their costumes. A lot of activities will take place in Uyo and there will be lots of food and cuisines.”

He 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.

According to him, there can be no development in an atmosphere where the farmer does not have the opportunity to go to farm.

“That is why we are happy today that the security network of the security agencies such as the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps will be there as they are here today as one of the galvanising teams to ensure that there is peace in Nigeria.

“We already have a list of our organograms aimed at having technical meetings that will bring together the key players in the security structure. The meeting will also bring together key players in food security and food harmonisation. So, after this festival, there will be follow-up projects and activities.

“These are going to be hubs of food and cultural revolution which we have been preaching about and that will take effect after the festival in October.”

In his remarks, Director, International Organisations, Political Economy Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Oladunjoye Musiliu, urged the relevant stakeholders to ensure success of the festival.
(NAN)