The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni, has urged members of the ECOWAS Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) to seek alternate funding for its activities.

Ms Ayeni said this in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications, NEPC, Aliu Sadiq, on Thursday in Abuja.

She called on the members to establish a special committee that would work closely with the technical committee on Financial Affairs and Resource Mobilisation to identify sustainable funding sources for the Network’s operations.

The NEPC boss was addressing the Sixth Annual General Assembly (AGM) of the Network in Dakar, Senegal, where she also serves as the head of the secretariat.

She said that the annual subscription of members of the network alone would not be sufficient for the implementation of the network’s core activities.

Ms Ayeni encouraged members of the organisation to continue to be more proactive and committed in delivering on the objectives and mandate of the organisation.

She commended the network for its great achievements so far and encouraged every member of the network to continue implementing its activities with commitment and dedication.

She also said that the activities of the network had continued to show impact toward promoting trade and regional integration in West Africa.

According to her, the organisation was established to serve as a medium for promoting trade and regional integration.

“The sixth AGM was hosted by Senegal and converged all chief executive officers of TPOs from 11 ECOWAS member states, including Nigeria.

“The meeting was facilitated by the ECOWAS Commission and attended by a representative of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Mr Robert Akinde.

“The International Trade Centre (ITC) also participated virtually and highlighted the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence to improve the operational efficiency of the Network,” she said.

Ms Ayeni said that the AGM concluded with the re-election of Edward Sandy of Sierra Leone as the president of the network and Kojo Kwoateng of Ghana as vice president for another year.

NAN