#ElectionBuzzNig’23
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Yiaga Africa have awarded N1 million grants to 13 Nigerian youths to mobilize at least 5,000 young voters each to register in the Voter Registration exercise for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, May 27, 2022 they disclosed that the winners were chosen through the #ThePowerOf18 Challenge which invited applications from young people between the ages of 18-30 in Adamawa, Benue, Enugu, FCT, Gombe, Imo, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Sokoto and Yobe States.
“A total of 2,503 applications were received in one week of the Challenge with one winner selected per state.
”The Challenge is part of the activities under the #SixtyPercentOfUs project aimed at mobilizing at least 60% of eligible young voters to register, collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and vote in the 2023 elections using traditional and non-traditional tools of political mobilization.
”The project also focuses on the states with the lowest voter registration and PVC collection rates according to data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as part of leveraging the large number of potential first-time voters who are young people to participate in the 2023 elections.
“#ThePowerOf18 Challenge is another testament to the creativity and innovativeness of young Nigerians, and also the passion and willingness they have for political participation. We are optimistic that these winners will be instrumental in motivating their peers to make use of their power as citizens in determining the next set of leaders for this country by voting massively in the 2023 election,” said Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa.
According to the UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Mr Mohamed Yahya, increasing voter participation and making the voting processes accessible to young Nigerians is essential to ensure the country’s future
“The #Powerof18 Challenge has proven that youths in Nigeria are not only ready but that they have the ingenuity, talent and determination to make a significant impact in the 2023 election.”
The winners of the #ThePowerOf18 Challenge will work closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission and Yiaga Africa’s civil society partners in their respective states
“They shall implement the projects from June to December 2022.”
PR/PIAK
