ECOWAS designs e-learning platform to empower rural African farmers

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has organised an e-learning platform to develop ECOWAS Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP). The platform aims to create a learning experience for stakeholders in the sector especially farmers in rural areas with practical training and information on farming techniques held in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and agriculture, ECOWAS, Massandje Toure-Litse, said the meeting of technical working group on the Regional Special Economic Zone (RSEZ), aimed to consider the regulatory and institutional framework document that will guide the creation of Special Economic Zones in Member States of the Community.

The group examined the recommendations contained in a 64 page document, which would enable the Community fulfil the provision of Article 3 of the 1993 Revised ECOWAS Treaty as well as the prescriptions and strategies set out in Chapter 14 of the ECOWAS Investment Policy.

The proposed draft Act is expected to provide the institutional framework that will govern, among others, the designation, establishment, location, design, financing, development, operation, management and governance as well as the administration and closure of such spatial development areas in the region.

Director, Private Sector, Dr Tony Elumelu, summarised the review of the draft to identify the areas requiring alignment with existing texts; ensure seamless integration into existing texts; provide authoritative guidance on issues of immigration and customs procedure and infuse the document with the required academic rigour.