GADA collaborates with INEC to intensify ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise and voter education for young women and girls in tertiary institutions

Gender and Development Action (GADA), under the Women’s Voice and Leadership Project Nigeria (WVLP) managed by ActionAid Nigeria with support from Global Affairs Canada is addressing gender related issues through the implementation of a 3-in-1 project focused on women’s political participation, leadership and decision-making, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices and women economic justice and empowerment. Through this initiative and in a bid to encourage and strengthen women’s political participation towards the 2023 elections, GADA is collaborating with INEC to intensify voter education among young women and girls with a specific focus on tertiary institutions in Cross River State. The objective of this effort which was initiated in June 2021 is to collate data on young women and girls that are eligible for voter registration and to intensify voter education through the Continuous Voter registration (CVR) exercise.

An orientation and training workshop was first conducted for enumerators to undertake research in select tertiary institutions - University of Calabar, Cross River State University of Technology and Cross River State College of Health Technology. This was followed by the distribution of questionnaires to eligible young women and girls, outreach to those who have just turned 18 and those without a voter’s card. A total of 420 questionnaires on voter education and registration were distributed and our analysis showed that there were 398 (95%) respondents of which 193 (48%) requested in- person registration; 95 (24%) requested online registration; 100 (25%) reported being already registered. Based on these results, GADA has begun to provide technical support for on-line registration and will intensify its assistance when INEC commences on-line registration process. Also, respondents interested in in-person registration will be directed to the approved INEC designated registration centers to commence and complete their registration.

In preparation for the resumption of the CVR exercise by INEC, GADA is also generating information on the specific problems young women and girls face with their voter’s card and is providing technical support to enable them participate fully in the electoral process. This exercise is running concurrently with another GADA activity in these institutions geared towards generating a database and information for properly mainstreaming interested young women and girls into political activities. Through these activities GADA is poised to prepare more young women and girls for political participation and leadership by building the foundation and environment for them to register and participate fully in the electoral processes leading to the 2023 elections.

Group picture of Enumerators with GADA staff

Session on Women in Politics handled by the Project Officer, Nnenna Ugbor

Opening remark by the Project Coordinator, Mrs. Francisca Effiom