…Assures of Successful ECOWAS Festival in Uyo.
By Paschal Emeka | Posted September 30, 2023
The National Central Working Committee of the forthcoming Cultural and Food Festival involving fifteen member countries of the Economic Community of West African States, tagged “ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival Uyo 2023″ has felicitated with the two host governors, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno of Akwa Ibom State and Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State on their victories at the election tribunals
In a statement endorsed by Prof. Sola Aliu, Chairman, National Central Working Committee and Sen. Emmanual Ibok Essien, subcommittee chairman, Intergovernmental Affairs/Local organising committee they expressed gratitude to God for the victories of the two hosting states in their election tribunal cases in Uyo and Calabar, assuring that the Central Working Committee was doing everything humanly possible to have a good outing at the ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival Uyo 2023.
While commending the Cross River State governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu of the All Progressive Party (APC) and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for passion for tourism development, the statement noted that the victories of the two tourism friendly governors speak volumes of the huge anticipated success of the maiden edition of ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival to be hosted by the two states on date yet to be made public.
The statement acknowledged the fact that the regional cultural and food festival would undoubtedly stimulate intercultural dialogue, regional integration, prosperity, tolerance, openness of spirit and respect for others in line with the worldwide building of responsible tourism through such events.
It reiterated the fact that through direct, spontaneous and non-mediated contacts, tourism brings between men and women of different cultures and ways of life, adding that tourism represents a living force in the service of peace, as well as a factor of friendship and breeding understanding between peoples of the world.
“Tourism can be a simplifying driver to drive the message associated with peace building. Tourism is a globalised industry that has no borders, so it is a potential peacemaker of global importance. It allows coupling and exchanges between the various markets and tourism products. Such interrelationships will further simplify the building of an understanding between different cultures.
The planned ECOWAS Food & Cultural Festival in Uyo is meant to achieve healthy cultural exchanges and experiences between different cultures across the ECOWAS subregion, covering the way of understanding and especially bringing respect for one another in a bid to naturally instill peaceful coexistence among ECOWAS countries discreetly.
“While tourism, by itself, does not build peace, but the relationship and characteristics that tourism fosters through association with several other ingredients that originate the recipe, “The Peace Cake”. This recipe must be adorned by all public and private institutions at all levels.
“Therefore, a multilateral agreement between all is indispensable to understand each other’s needs. The perception and mutual respect between different peoples are the basis for a responsible tourist who, when travelling, understands that his experience is an experience of exchange, the statement emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Director, Contacts and Mobilisation of the ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival, Amb. Prince Godwin Ibiang, an aide to the Cross River State governor, has reported that following the election tribunal victory of Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Calabar was agog with various celebrations as Cross Riverians came out in their numbers to the streets to express their gratitude to God, describing Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu as a God sent leader.
According to Pope Francis: “All citizens are responsible for building peace”. Therefore, all tourists and receptor communities have a role and can be ambassadors of PEACE.