Students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), on Thursday, February 1st 2023, were represented in the youth capacity workshop on electoral engagement for tertiary institutions organised by the Human Rights Advancement, Development And Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC).
HURIDAC, established in 2014, is a regional non-governmental organisation in West Africa currently operating in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia.
The training session, which took place in Neca House, Ikeja, Lagos, was part of the organisation’s Election and Youth Engagement (EYE) Project, which is focused on delineating methods for empowering Nigerian youths to sustain their active engagement in the electoral process, emphasising a series of activities to achieve this objective.
According to Mrs Mfon Enoidem, the EYE Project Manager, the 2023 elections in Nigeria presented an opportunity for active participation by young people. However, the aftermath was the opposite, based on data obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“While the youth’s commendable engagement before and during the elections was noteworthy, the post-election atmosphere indicates the necessity for heightened citizen action and response.
“Many young individuals express dissatisfaction with the election outcome, which could potentially result in disengagement from the electoral process,” Mrs Enoidem averred.
The key highlights of the workshop included sensitisation on the electoral process, understanding the role of INEC and other stakeholders, how to make electoral officials accountable, as well as the use of the newly-launched EYE Project mobile app for education on electoral engagement.
The initiative aims to actively involve youth in the electoral process and governance, encouraging them to act as societal watchdogs.
Eleven students from NIJ, across National Diploma (ND) 1 to Higher National Diploma (HND) 2, and part-time, were present for the workshop. They actively participated in presentations, question-and-answer sessions, quizzes and app training feedback.
“I strongly believe an initiative such as this is very timely. I have personally learned and unlearned a lot of things about voting, which will help me make a more informed decision in the next elections. I also hope that more youths are sensitised on their rights to vote as the future of this nation is in our hands,” Grace Akinyemi, a 300 level student revealed.
The event also attracted students from various tertiary institutions, including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, as well as Faith-based organisations (FBOs) in Lagos State.
The HURIDAC’s EYE Project is in partnership with The Nigerian Women Trust Fund and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.