Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Yiaga Africa has successful completed a training program for over 62 journalists and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The training, conducted under the “Watching the Vote (WTV)-Elections Academy” initiative, aims to enhance pre-election observation and promote electoral transparency.
Jennifer Dafwat, Media and Communication Officer at Yiaga Africa, disclosed details of the training during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin. The program saw participation from 19 women and 43 men, representing about 30 media houses and 13 CSOs in Edo State.
“The objective of this training is to provide participants with a thorough understanding of pre-election observation methodologies,” Dafwat said. “By equipping them with this knowledge, we aim to empower them to effectively communicate these practices to the public. Citizen reports play a crucial role in monitoring pre-election procedures and analyses.”
Yiaga Africa’s Programme Manager, Mr. Paul James, further outlined the organization’s plans to collect data from 300 of the 4,419 polling units across Edo State. A team of 25 Yiaga election observers will be deployed to cover all 18 local government areas. James emphasized the importance of utilizing Information Communication Technology (ICT) and statistical analysis to ensure the integrity of the election and bolster public confidence.
Prof. Nnamdi Aduba, a board member of Yiaga Africa, called for increased knowledge and intelligence sharing to address the complexities and irregularities in Nigerian elections. The University of Jos lecturer expressed optimism about the training’s impact on voter engagement and transparency.
“I am heartened by the progress we are making,” Aduba remarked. “Democracy flourishes when citizens are empowered and the electoral process is transparent. Our efforts demonstrate that with proper engagement, voters can drive meaningful change.”
This initiative underscores Yiaga Africa’s commitment to fostering a more transparent and credible electoral process in Nigeria.
