Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, has urged ECOWAS to foster greater economic cooperation among member states.
The governor made the appeal while receiving a delegation of the ECOWAS Commission led by its President, Kadre’ De’sire’ Oue’draogo.
Others in the delegation included ECOWAS Commission Deputy President, Dr. Toga McIntosh, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremandu and the President, Community Court of Justice, Justice Awa Daboya Nana.
The delegation was in Uyo for a three-day retreat.
The governor commended ECOWAS leadership for bringing the retreat to Uyo which, according to him, has undergone transformation in the last six years of his administration.
Akpabio informed ECOWAS delegation that the state government was constructing Tropicana Entertainment Centre with an international conference centre with the hope of hosting ECOWAS conferences in future.
He said that Akwa Ibom State had approached a Ghanaian company to train youths in the state on computer education and vocational skills so as to prepare the youths for a better future.
He advised them to go round the state and see the uncommon transformation of the state government.
“You have come to Uyo to see. I want you to be ambassadors in spreading news about our development projects,” Akpabio said.
In his address, the ECOWAS Commission President commended Akpabio for his development programmes in the state.
Oue’draogo also lauded the state governor for his hospitality and disclosed that ECOWAS was in Uyo for its seventh retreat.
The president further disclosed that it was a joint retreat for commissions, ECOWAS institutions, permanent representatives and national units.
He said that the 3-day retreat was meant to review ECOWAS programmes, discuss priorities and execute policies and programmes of the Heads of States in the sub-region.
Oue’draogo, who congratulated Akpabio on his emergence as the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, expressed the hope that Uyo would provide the inspiration in reaching the goals for the region.
