The National Central Working Committee (NCWC) of ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival, Chaired by *Prof. Sola Aliu*, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC)/ Inter Governmental Affairs (IGA) Chaired by *Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien*, FNSE and the Director General, *Amb. Prince Felix Ihonre* bring warm greetings from "Nigeria 2024" Secretariat in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We welcome all ECOWAS member Countries, invited Delegates from the International Community and our expected Exhibitors, Cultural Troupes and the entire invited Participants and VIPs to the Festival. This Festival is hosted by Akwa Ibom State Government, Co-host by Cross River State Government with the Technical/Professional support from the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, with the full support of the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs ECOWAS Unit, Abuja. Nigeria, with the collaboration of Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, African Union-Africa Film Institute, UN MDGs Action Zone, and other relevant Stakeholders. It is organized by Network of Young Female Leaders of ECOWAS Community (ROAJELF) in association with Africa for Millennium Change Initiative, High World International Organization, Society for the Development of Rural Economy, Archi- Use Production and Partners. Official Airline; Ibom Air.
This Festival will be attended by individuals/Institutions/LGAs/States/Countries from the Fifteen(15) ECOWAS member Countries and Special Invitees from around the World. *In cognisance of the economic contributions of food and cultural festivals to our local economy in financial terms, vis-à-vis the seemingly fierce competitive pressures among destinations, government/private sector destinations, marketing organizations usually use local/traditional festivals as the lynchpin for economic and business development*.
The Food/Gastronomy/Culinary festival would provide the desired platform for indigenous food businesses/vendors to showcase their products and services. This would help to boost the local economy by promoting inbound and outbound tourism, entrepreneurship and support for small scale businesses, as it is an established fact for cultural tourism festivals and events. In terms of participation, they are usually attended by locals and visitors from within or nearby cities as well as visitors (native and foreign) from far and near.
This Festival would have been held and hosted by *the erstwhile Governor, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel in May, 2023* but was postponed to September by the State Government due to the Transition Exercise which brought His Excellency Pastor Umo Bassey Eno* in as the new Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State. *Hence, a lot of preparatory arrangements has been scheduled across the country and the final Preparatory National Stakeholders Forum will be used to herald the Celebration of the first Hundred (100) Days in Office ( between 6th and 9th September)* of this administration at the Federal and State Levels, and to Flag Off the main event scheduled to held soon (all registered participants will be duly informed).
This will boost and promote Cultural Tourism Development activities in the Host State which will accumulate into the Festival that will be Officially Declared Opened by the President Federal Republic Nigeria and the ECOWAS Chairman; His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and to be graced by other African Presidents/Heads of State/Governments, Heads of Diplomatic/International Community, Business CEOs, etc. This Festival will feature Cultural Troupes/Floats, Food Expo, Exhibitions of Products/Products' Information, Agricultural Machines/Tools, Cooking Utencils/Kitchen Assessories, Youth/Women/NGOs/CSOs Forum, Miss ECOWAS Festival Beauty Pageant, and African Presidents/Heads of State/Governments and Business CEOs Summit on Food Security which will showcase motivational speeches on Food Security, Healthy Nutrition, Economic Integration and Sustainable Development in the Region, including a Blueprint on Food and Cultural Revolution (A RENAISSANCE) for urgent implementation by various countries.
It is expected to be graced by National, Regional and International Personalities and Organiations, Royal Fathers/Traditional Rulers, Multinational Business CEOs, Parliamentarians, State Governors, Presidents/Heads of State/Governments who will lead their Country's Delegations from all sectors around the world.
This Festival will showcase an exhibition of the various regional food products, as well as music, dance, comedy, cultural troupes/floats, training workshops, youth/women interactive forum, and will come to a Close with a Musical Concert, Banquet Dinner, Awards and Sight-Seeing Tours in the host/neighboring States and the Country at large.
The Festival is aimed at attracting direct investment/investors to the host State, Nigeria and the ECOWAS Region.
It is equally geared towards strengthening sustainable development through the promotion of sources of livelihood for employment, nutrition, eco-tourism, prevention of diseases and to eradicate poverty in the region. Akwa Ibom State is chosen to host this Festival as a result of her Cultural diversity, hospitality, agrarian nature, quality food delicacies, tourism potentials, peaceful and serene environment including modern infrastructural facilities capable of hosting an event of this magnitude e.g. Good Roads, Airport, Airline (Ibom Air), Venues, Accommodation and Other Logistics requirements, along with its Co-host: Cross River State.
This Festival will attract over 10,000 Delegates, Viewers, Investors and Investment, besides 15, 000 direct Participants/Visitors and over 30 million indirect Telemedia viewers around the world.
The Host State/Country will bring together Participants, Visitors and Delegates from the 36 States/FCT/774 LGAs in Nigeria, 15 ECOWAS member Countries, Stakeholders and other Special Invitees in the Cultural and Tourism Industry from in and around the World to explore possible opportunities for investment, partnership and collaborations that will stimulate sustainable development and economic growth.
We, as Great Cultural and Tourism Development Stakeholders, acknowledge that Akwa Ibom State and Co-host Cross River State have a high tourism potential yet to be harnessed. It is expected that after a high level preparation and implementation of the activities of this festival, tourism projects/products and services will be boosted in the host States, Nigeria and the ECOWAS Region.
With the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs it is expected that many Presidents/Heads of State/Governments, Parliamentarians, Governors, Ministers, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, International Organizations, Business CEOs, Traditional Leaders, MDAs, Academic institutions, Banks/Financial Institutions, CSOs/NGOs, Youth and Women groups, Cultural Troupes, Exhibitors, Investors, Beauty Pageants, Trainers, Motivational Speakers, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Artists, etc. in ECOWAS Region and World over will attend.
In addition, We use this medium to inform all and sundry of the opportunities available for adverts on our program of events, Magazine and Directory of stakeholders on Food and Cultural activities world wide.
The NCWC/LOC welcomes you all to this Festival in Uyo, Aka Ibom STate, Nigeria.
Amb. Prince Felix Ihonre, Director General EFCF.
Prof. Sola Aliu, Chairman NCWC.
Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essiecn, FNSE.
