Latest news with #MassandjeToureLitse
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) strengthens its strategy to make West Africa a world tourist destination of choice
ECOWAS Commission has launched a four-day technical meeting on the 8th of July,2025 in Cotonou, Benin. This meeting brings together experts from Member States to examine six draft classification standards for tourist accommodation establishments. The standards, drawn up on the basis of various workshops organised as part of the ECOWAS tourism policy (ECOTOUR), concern hotels, motels, inns, ecolodges, aparthotels and holiday villages. The event is jointly organised by the private sector and industry directorates. In her opening speech, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandje Toure-Litse, represented by the Director of the Private Sector, Dr Tony Luka Elumelu, recalled ECOWAS's ambition to make tourism a major lever for economic development and regional integration. She affirmed that the region is striving to build a flourishing tourism industry, drawing on international best practice adapted to the West African context, with the aim of making it a world tourist destination of choice. She emphasised that this strategy is based on five closely linked pillars: strengthening infrastructure, including investment in transport, accommodation and tourist attractions; relaxing regional visa policies for third-country nationals to improve accessibility, streamline procedures and foster greater people-to-people diplomacy; the harmonisation of sectoral standards and regulations to facilitate travel, trade and enhance the overall tourism experience; the promotion of sustainable tourism practices that ensure an environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically viable industry; and collaboration and partnerships between stakeholders in the sector to pool expertise, share knowledge and develop effective solutions to common challenges. She stressed the importance of implementing a coherent, collaborative and sustainable approach to tourism in order to stimulate national economies, strengthen cultural exchanges and ensure the sustainability of the sector. In reaffirming the Commission's commitment to responsible tourism practices, she emphasised the need to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, local cultures and host communities, and stressed the importance of implementing a coherent, collaborative and sustainable approach to tourism in order to stimulate national economies, strengthen cultural exchanges and ensure the sustainability of the sector. In reaffirming the Commission's commitment to responsible tourism practices, she emphasised the need to minimise the negative impacts of tourism on the environment, local cultures and host communities. The Director General of the Standards Agency of the Republic of Benin, Mohamed Nazif El-Hadji Alassane, representing Benin's Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, welcomed ECOWAS' efforts to harmonise standards and regulations in the tourism sector. He stressed that this will help to transform the region into a single tourism market, while boosting tourism, employment and public revenue, with positive spin-offs for the economies of Member States. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Zawya
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commission joins nigerian ministry of environment to commemorate World environment Day, championing action against plastic pollution
The ECOWAS Commission in a significant collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment's Department of Planning, Research, and Statistics, on the 17th of June, 2025 celebrated the 2025 World Environment Day. The commemorative event, held in Abuja, Nigeria, themed: ' Ending Plastic Pollution' with the slogan 'Beat the plastic' Mr. Yao Bernard Koffi, Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of H.E. Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. He underscored the profound significance of the occasion, particularly as it coincided with ECOWAS's Jubilee Year, marking five decades of regional solidarity, integration and shared responsibility. Mr. Bernard Koffi reaffirmed the Commission's unwavering commitment to fostering a clean, resilient, and sustainable environment for current and future generations. He highlighted ECOWAS's proactive stance in addressing persistent environmental challenges, including the adoption of a regional regulation on plastic management in 2023, which mandates member states to harmonize their plastic waste management regulations. Furthermore, ECOWAS Vision 2050 identifies environmental sustainability as a crucial pillar for inclusive development and emphasizes the vital role of fostering youth-driven climate action, acknowledging that the future belongs to them. He concluded by urging tangible action over mere words and unity over indifference, stating, 'The ECOWAS Commission stands ready to work side-by-side with Nigeria and all partners to beat plastic pollution not tomorrow, but today.' And that the commisson remains resolutely committed to working alongside member states to beat Pollution. In his keynote address, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Honorable Minister of Environment, emphasized the critical global urgency of this year's theme, 'Ending Plastic Pollution.' He stressed that plastic pollution transcends environmental concerns, posing significant economic and public health crises. The Minister highlighted the alarming rate at which plastic waste infiltrates oceans, rivers and drainage systems, endangering wildlife and exacerbating urban flooding. Minister Lawal outlined Nigeria's initiatives, including the launch of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, which obliges producers to manage the entire lifecycle of their plastic products. He expressed profound appreciation to all development partners, particularly the ECOWAS Commission, commending its steadfast partnership in environmental governance, climate change response, and sustainable development across the West African sub-region, as well as its leadership in addressing transboundary environmental issues. Mr. Mahmud Adam Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, delivered the welcome address, reinforcing the dire threat plastic waste poses to ecosystems, public health, and the planet. He stated, 'Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, clogging waterways, endangering marine life, and contaminating our food systems.' Mr. Kambari reiterated Nigeria's direct experience with the devastating impacts of plastic waste and issued a clarion call for intensified efforts through effective policy implementation, robust public awareness campaigns, responsible consumption patterns, and strategic investment in sustainable alternatives. He affirmed the Ministry's commitment to advancing circular economy principles, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and promoting innovations that reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Mr. Kambari extended sincere commendations to all partners, stakeholders, and environmental advocates for their tireless efforts, urging everyone present to reflect on individual and collective actions to 'Beat Plastic Pollution.' The occasion also saw the notable presence of representatives from key organizations, international partners and stakeholders, including UNICEF, Oando Foundation, Oando Clean Energy, OXFAM, Zoom Lion Nigeria, RCEI, RUWES, and the Head of Mission to the Netherlands, alongside invited students from various schools. These stakeholders collectively underscored the paramount importance of a safe environment, emphasizing the pivotal role of women and children as not only integral to addressing climate and environmental issues but also as vital agents of community awareness and crucial actors in forging a greener, plastic-free future. The joint commemoration underscored the shared commitment of ECOWAS and Nigeria to combat plastic pollution through coordinated regional action and national policy implementation, reinforcing their dedication to a sustainable future. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
