Akwa Ibom State is set to host the first edition of the food
and cultural festival for the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS).
The Director-General of the ECOWAS Food and Cultural
Festival, Mr Felix Ihonre, who made the disclosure in Uyo on Wednesday, said
the festival would hold from April 25 to April 29.
Ihonre said that the theme of the festival is: “Celebrating
Africa’s Cultural Heritage for Peace and Development”.
He said the programme would promote the rich cultural
heritage of Nigeria and bring together stakeholders from all walks of life to
articulate positive action plans as well as strategies on how to end poverty in
the country.
Ihonre further said that the event would give Akwa Ibom the
opportunity to showcase its rich cuisines and boost the internally generated
revenue of the host state in particular and Nigeria at large.
“This all-important event aims to attract foreign
investors/investments to the host state, Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.
“It will promote African cultural heritage, food/hospitality
industries for tourism, peace and development; promote a region for
sustainable/ qualitative/quantitative food, cultural and industrial revolution.
“Promote friendship, peace, economic integration and trade
in ECOWAS with the global community; expose the economic/cultural potential of
host state/country /ECOWAS to the world.
“It will also promote youth development, employment and
internal revenue to the host state, country and ECOWAS.
“The event is in partnership or sponsorship of the Federal
Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Federal Ministry of
Information and Culture and other MDAs.
“It will also be a collaboration of the host state, Akwa
Ibom state through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,” he said.
According to him, the goal of the event is geared toward a
food and cultural revolution in West Africa.
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