INTRODUCTION:
The African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention, AYICRIP in partnership with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, hosted a One Day Workshop on the role of youths and Civil Society Organization in mobilizing citizens for participation in the continues voter registrations and electoral processes in commemoration of the International Youth Day, 2021.
The International Youth Day 2021 through the workshop created a platform and opportunity for Youths and Heads of Civil Society Organizations across Lagos to be educated on their role in the mobilization of citizens to participate in the ongoing continues voter registrations and other forms of electoral processes.
The workshop was a direct response to the numerous challenges confronting the electoral system in Nigeria especially electoral violence, corruption and voter apathy which has become a bane at our development in our electoral practices. The workshop aimed at changing the narratives by educating the citizens increased electoral participation through the Youth and Civil Society Organization’s voter education programmes.
WELCOME ADDRESS:
The Executive Director/Founder of African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention,
AYICRIP, Amb. Christogonus C. Ibe welcomed and appreciated all the invited guests and participants for honouring the invitation despite their busy schedule. He thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for approving the partnership request to host the workshop which he considers the greatest problem Nigeria is facing today.
Amb Christogonus said that the organization is using the International Youth Day 2021 to host the workshop to reflect on the worsening situation of the Nigerian electoral system which remains the one singular reason the country is suffering from decades of bad leadership. He went ahead to call on all participants to stand up to their organizational mandate and face the realities on ground regarding our electoral system by educating and sensitizing the citizens on their roles in restoring electoral sanity and trust to enable the country produce quality leaders. He also appreciated the US. Mission especially the Consulate General in Lagos for supporting their organization’s previous electoral system focused projects and he promised to continue to sustain and promote the ideals and objectives of the International Visitor’s Leadership Programme, IVLP which he remains a proud beneficiary by addressing and providing solutions to those societal needs that are bane in the wheel of our development as a country.
INVITED GUESTS AND RESOURCE PERSONS THAT GRACED THE
WORKSHOP:
- Mr James Popoola, Administrative Secretary, Independent National
Electoral Commission, Lagos State who represented Mr Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Lagos State. - Ms Briana M. Olson, Electoral/Economic Officer of the U.S Consulate, Lagos,
- Mr Waheed Ishola, Director, National Orientation Agency, Lagos State and Mr Abayomi Owoeye, CEO, Yomi Owoeye Foundation as speakers.
INVITED PANELISTS THAT GRACED THE WORKSHOP:
- Mr Kayode Ariwayo, South West Coordinator, AYICRIP,
- Comrade Nzekwe Gerald, Convener, Movement for the Emancipation of the Nigerian Youths,
- Comrade Abraham Adesanya, Youth Political Activist
- Ms Adeyemi Temitope, President, Lions Club, Anthony Mende Mega
PRESENTATIONS:
- The INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr James Popoola represented the Resident Electoral Commission Mr Sam Olumekun who was on a national assignment. As part of his opening speech, he welcomed participants and resource persons especially the US Embassy for taking their time to honour the invitation. He went ahead to appreciate African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention for sustaining the workshop having done a similar workshop in 2017. He called on CSOs to come up with programmes that will improve the electoral process and they should be rest assured of the readiness of INEC to partner with them.
- Ms Briana M. Olson, the Political and Economic Officer of US Consulate, while making her presentation thanked the organizers for inviting the US Consulate to participate in the workshop considering their roles in building the democratic institutions in Nigeria. She said the US Mission will continue supporting the stability of the Nigerian electoral system through supporting government institutions and building the capacities of CSOs. She emphasized on the commitment of the US Mission to support a peaceful, transparent, credible and fair electoral process in Nigeria. She went ahead to encourage the participants to assume their fundamental role as
representatives of the people in sensitizing the citizens for and objective and all-inclusive election system. - Mr Waheed Ishola, Director of the National Orientation Agency, Lagos State educated participants on the benefits of stakeholders partnership in the achievements of an inclusive and violence free electoral process. He further explained the processes in which the Civil Society Organizations and the National Orientation Agency can partner for electoral project implementations.
- Mr Abayomi Owoeye in his own presentation furthers the discussion by dwelling on the causes and consequences of voter apathy in our electoral system and ways to prevent voter apathy. Lastly the panelists took turns to discuss the role of the youths in the development of electoral processes and democracy.
OUTCOME OF THE WORKSHOP/FEEDBACK:
- The participants were able to acquire skills involved in citizen’s
mobilization in the electoral processes and participation. - They appreciated the organizers for putting up the workshop considering the high level of voter apathy and electoral violence being experienced in Nigeria.
- The participants pledged their commitment to replicate the workshop in their communities upon return.
- CSOs Network against Electoral Violence and Voter Apathy was form.
- Participants requested more of the workshop to be organized to build the capacity of other youths and heads of CSOs.
ORGANIZATIONS THE PARTNERED IN HOSTING THE EVENT:
- International Centre for Leadership Development, Nigeria
- Next Leaders Initiative for Sustainability, NELIS
- United Religious Initiative,
- Impact Her World Foundation
- World Federation against Drug,
- Healthy Thinking International
- National Orientation Agency.
THE VOTE OF THANKS:
Mr Femi Akinbiyi, Head of Voter Education Unite of the Independent
National Electoral Commission, INEC thanked every participant for taking
time to attend the workshop especially the US Consulate and the National
Orientation Agency. He went ahead to charge the youths and heads of CSOs
to take advantage of the partnership open window by INEC to carry out more programmes to educate the citizens.
VOLUNTEERISM:
Mr Felix Iziomoh of the International Centre of Leadership Development, Nigeria moderated the workshop for free.
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
The workshop recorded 22 participants and was conducted in strict observation of the COVID 19 Protocols.
TIME STARTED/ENDED:
The workshop started by 11am and ended 2:45pm.
CHALLEGES/REGRETS:
The COVID 19 situation caused us to reduce the number of participants
Inadequate funds to support the refreshment and transportation of participants.
