Nigeria is ready to host key stakeholders from the Financial Neighborhood of West African States to handle the safety challenges hindering farming and agricultural manufacturing throughout the area, an official has introduced.
The Director-Common of the ECOWAS Meals and Cultural Pageant, Felix Ihonre, revealed this throughout an interview with the Information Company of Nigeria on the sidelines of the Preparatory/Inter-ministerial Assembly for the competition in Abuja.
NAN studies that the ECOWAS Meals and Cultural Pageant is scheduled to happen in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from sixth to eleventh October 2024.
Ihonre acknowledged that the competition would convey collectively key gamers from the meals safety and safety sectors to suggest options to the challenges affecting farming and agricultural manufacturing in Nigeria and different West African international locations.
“Nigeria, because the host of the ECOWAS Meals and Cultural Pageant, which might be held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from sixth to eleventh October 2024, stands to learn considerably in areas corresponding to tourism, sustainable growth, cultural integration, poverty alleviation, youth employment, and girls in agriculture.
“The competition goals to advocate for high-level authorities insurance policies and dedication from governments throughout the ECOWAS sub-region.
“We’re partaking all sectors of the economic system to make sure that, by way of synergy amongst key gamers, the problems of insecurity, starvation, malnutrition, and violence in agricultural areas might be addressed.”
The EFCF Director-Common additional famous that if the federal government succeeds in curbing violence in varied communities, farmers will be capable to work with out concern of harassment.
In accordance with him, when farmers can domesticate crops and grains on the proper time and place with out harassment, it’ll result in ample and inexpensive meals availability.
“We’re wanting ahead to welcoming delegates from 16 ECOWAS member states, in addition to worldwide delegates, heads of state, and authorities officers to Abuja and Uyo for the competition.”
The Director-Common added that the competition will characteristic occasions corresponding to a golf event, practice carnival, Miss ECOWAS Magnificence Pageant, and different actions.
“Now we have deliberate actions together with a golf event, practice carnival, and a discussion board for males and youth. There may also be a discussion board for native authorities chairmen, everlasting secretaries of MDAs, and administrators.
“The Miss ECOWAS Magnificence Pageant will showcase the sweetness and conventional costumes of ECOWAS international locations. As well as, Uyo will provide quite a lot of meals and cuisines for guests to get pleasure from.”
He defined that the theme of the competition, “Celebrating African Cultural Heritage for Peace and Improvement,” was well timed, as growth can not thrive in an atmosphere of battle.
Ekpa Francis from the Workplace of the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation (OSGF) stated that the OSGF helps the upcoming competition as a result of it promotes peace and growth within the nation.
“The Director-Common of the ECOWAS Meals and Cultural Pageant has been welcomed by the OSGF, having outlined the competition’s significance for ECOWAS and the nation.
“The Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, is understood for his attentiveness and has recognised the worth of this programme for Nigeria,” Francis stated.
“The SGF has resolved that, because the competition focuses on peace and growth, which aligns with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, it’s a welcome initiative.”
(NAN)