ECOWAS, CSO’s PARTNERSHIP ’LL BOOST CAPITAL INFLOW
— FG

Posted: Friday, September 3, 2010

The Federal Government on Wednesday said that the recent synergy between ECOWAS and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) would serve as a precursor for foreign capital inflow into the sub-region.
Dr. Idi Hong, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said this while addressing participants at the ECOWAS regional strategic meeting of Civil Society Organisations in Abuja.
Hong, represented by Mr Safiu Olaniyan, the Acting Head of ECOWAS Unit in the ministry, stressed that such cooperation would enhance the confidence of development partners.
“This will also show the international donors that we have more than ever before developed the ability to manage resources as well as pursue real development goals,” he said.
Hong said that the synergy was a new and bold initiative to transform the sub-regional organisation to ECOWAS of the people.
“Nigeria is prepared to support ECOWAS effort for effective and timely response to the needs and aspiration of the average citizens of the West African sub-region,” the minister said.
Mr Chineme Ume-Ezeoke, Special Adviser to the President on relations with civil society organisations, expressed delight over the commission’s scientific approach to strategic engagement with the CSOs.
“This is one of the ways of achieving the vision and mission of the commission as envisioned by its founding fathers,” he said.
Dr Sinkiti Ugbe, the Director of Gender and Civil Society Organisations at the commission, said that ECOWAS sought to use the CSOs to deliver meaningful development to the region.
“The strategic search for dependable CSOs in the region stem from the need to logically engage some of them for the effective aggregation and representation of citizenry perspective,” he said.
Ugbe said the relations with the non-state actors was required to evolve a strategic framework for effective engagement of civil society organisations in the region.