Report of a-One-Day sensitization Seminar organized by the students' wing of the National Anti-corruption Volunteer Corps (SAVC), held at Indoor Theater, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria, on Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Participants at the one-day sensitization seminar were mainly students of the University of Abuja, Gwagwalada campus.
Speakers were drawn from anti-graft agencies of government namely: Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC), MakeYourVotesCount.org and the University community.
Topics handled by the various speakers which centered on corruption and electoral violence include:
i. Corruption/Electoral Violence and the Youth.
ii. How the Youth will make their votes count.
iii. The battle against corruption and challenges before the Youth.
The speakers were unanimous in their various presentations that corruption is a menace in that threatens the survival of the country. They noted that corruption cuts across all segments of the society irrespective of our religious affiliation, gender, ethnic background, social or academic status.
Contributors urged participants to desist from violence, electoral fraud and other unwholesome practices no matter what an individual may stand to benefit in the very immediate term.
On Corruption/Electoral Violence , Dr. Sadiq Abba of the Department of Political Science, University of Abuja, frowned at the rate of youth involvement in electoral fraud, noting that it would not be possible for politicians to intimidate voters through thuggery, stuffing of ballot boxes, etc, if the youth did not offer themselves as ready tools for perpetuating electoral violence. He challenged the Nigerian youth to be like Ghadaffi of Libya, Rawlings of Ghana and Chavez of Cuba, all of whom rose against bad governance and evil order in their respective countries.
Pictures at the event
Solomon Akpe who represented MakeYourVotesCount.org noted that it was impossible for the votes of citizens to count in an election if the citizens themselves fail to abide by those standard rules governing elections. He reminded participants that election is a process which begins and ends with a set of rules. A citizen aged 18 and above, must present himself/herself for voter registration which takes place periodically at designated locations. This, the speaker said, remains basic to a citizen's exercise of franchise at any elections. Further, the citizen must go out to cast his/her vote on the day of election, must wait at the polling-boot to witness how the votes are counted by electoral officials; and, must insist in a non-violent manner, that, whatever comes out in form of results at such polling unit(s) are maintained, and that, leaders can only emerge on the strength of such results and subsequent announcements.
According to Akpe, citizens have a role to play if the elections must meet minimum acceptable standards. These obligations are simple: obey officials on election duty, present your voters' card for accreditation, abide by the rule that restricts movement of people while the exercise lasts, and remain law abiding and civil in your approach towards any issues that may not entirely please you about the elections. It is only when all these are done that the elections are presumed to have been credible, free and fair.
The battle against corruption and challenges before the youth are enormous according to Stanley Ugwu, while stressing the need for attitudinal change among Nigerians. He urged participants to try in their little ways to do simple, ordinary things in an extra-ordinary way. He enjoined all participants to reflect on the legacy they will leave for unborn generation while doing what is possible and within acceptable limits to correct the many wrongs of yesterday. In doing this, he argued, youth must not cast blame on any person or system, but should see the country at the position where it is as a faulty system that needs overhauling, and which can only be done by our collective efforts.
All speakers urged the youth to be optimistic and show great faith in Nigeria as very little or nothing can be achieved without teamwork.
The seminar closed with a vote of thanks by the student organizers who showed so much appreciation to the participating organizations, speakers and students for their time and input.
Report prepared by Solomon Akpe & Taiwo Adebowale
MYVC Visits Information & Communication Minister
On May 13, 2010, MakeYourVotesCount paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of State, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mallam Labaran Maku. The minister who expressed delight at the visit praised MYVC for initiating the campaign to inform and educate Nigerians, particularly youths, about democracy and the role they can play in the electoral process.
Mallam Maku noted that civil society and the media had an important role to play in entrenching democracy in Nigeria. He reiterated his ministry's commitment to working with groups like MYVC to improve the electoral process.
The minister said Nigerians had to change their attitude towards election. He said government was sincere about free and fair elections and urged civil society organisations and media to educate Nigerians about election and why it is important for them to exercise their fundamental right to vote and be voted for.
The MYVC delegation briefed the minister on why the initiative was launched and the role the ministry could play in supporting the project to realise its aims and objectives. MYVC pioneered the use of new media such as the Internet (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Podcasts, etc) and mobile phones as essential tools to enhance democracy and electoral participation in Nigeria.
MYVC informed the minister that using these pop culture tools to communicate with potential voters and supporters is a positive and innovative way to enhance political communication, participation, and outreach.
Mallam Maku urged MYVC not to relent in its effort to ensure popular participation in the 2011 election, noting that it was the only way Nigerians would have confidence in the government and it activities. He said government had a role to play in the success of the 2011 election, but added that Nigerians must show willingness to exercise their rights and franchise as citizens. According to the minister, free and fair election must involve the people.
Mallam Labaran Maku, Minister of State, Ministry of Information and Communication.
Survey on Youth Perception of the 2011 Election
Nigerians will go to the polls early next year. To gauge the feeling and attitude of Nigerian youth towards the election, MakeYourVotesCount.org is conducting a survey of students in Abuja and Nassarawa State.
It is expected that between 1200 and 1500 students in tertiary institutions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nassarawa State will be surveyed.
The result of the survey will be made public and will be used as a basis for engaging students and youth in the political process.
MakeYourVotesCount to pay courtesy visit to Minister of State for Information and Communication
M akeYourVotesCount.org will on Thursday, May 13, 2010, pay a courtesy visit to the honourable Minister of Information, Mallam Labaran Maku . The visit is part of an on-going effort to familiarise stakeholders with the programmes and activities of MYVC which aims to make the issue of free, fair and transparent elections the main concern on the national political agenda as well as encourage youth, using ICT, to take active part in the democratic process.
The visit will afford MYVC an opportunity to explain to the honourable minister how new media such as the Internet (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Podcasts, etc) and mobile phones can complement old media as essential tools for enhanced democracy and development in Nigeria.
MYVC believes that using these pop culture tools to communicate with potential voters and supporters is a positive and innovative way to enhance political communication, participation, and outreach.
What YMCI wants to achieve, is to facilitate and motivate youth access to this huge digital platform and new cultural and political communication tool to promote greater awareness and understanding of the political processes and to expose issues and facts that will excite young people and help them make informed decisions during elections.
