By Prosper Mene
As a part of it’s bid to boost women’s participation in the democratic process, the European Union (EU) has partnered with the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) to train 30 women from diverse communities across Anambra State on voter education.
The initiative, aimed at curbing voter apathy and addressing electoral challenges, is part of a three-day “Train the Trainers” workshop held in Awka, ahead of the August 16 senatorial by-elections and the November 8 governorship polls.The EU-funded program, which began on Thursday, equips participants with the knowledge and skills to conduct local voter education forums, fostering informed participation and promoting peaceful elections. Malliya Manu, Programme Officer at NWTF, emphasized the importance of familiarizing women with the electoral process to encourage greater involvement. “The objective is to reduce voter apathy, which has often marred past elections, and ensure more women participate fully in the upcoming polls,” Manu told journalists.Venezia Gregory, a lead resource person, highlighted key challenges such as double registration, transportation difficulties, and a lack of voter education resources. She stressed that voter education is critical to strengthening democracy by promoting tolerance, acceptance of election results, and inclusive governance. “This training is designed to create a multiplier effect, with each participant mobilizing and educating 50 more women in their communities,” Gregory added.Anambra’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Elizabeth Agwu, urged participants to uphold integrity and resist vote-buying, emphasizing the role of women in ensuring credible elections. The participants, carefully selected in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Social and Integral Development Centre, are expected to drive grassroots campaigns to enhance electoral awareness.
INEC reported over 96,000 new voter registrations in just nine days during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, with women and youth leading the surge. With campaigns set to commence on June 11, this voter education effort is set to play a pivotal role in ensuring a transparent and inclusive electoral process in Anambra State.
