LAGOS/Nigeria: Civil society organisations on Saturday staged a roadshow in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State to sensitise residents on the importance of registering for and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The awareness campaign, aimed at boosting civic participation and voter registration, was organised by the Springwell Development Initiative with support from Yiaga Africa and funding from the National Endowment for Democracy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise formed part of ongoing efforts by civic groups to encourage residents, particularly youths, to take an active role in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Lagos Focal Person for Yiaga Africa, Mr. Michael Ogunshola, said the roadshow followed an earlier town hall meeting designed to promote civic engagement among community members.
According to him, the road walk was specifically organised to deepen community sensitisation and mobilise residents to participate more actively in the electoral process by registering for their PVCs.
Ogunshola commended the commitment of volunteers and residents who participated in the exercise, noting that many joined the campaign without any financial incentive because of their desire to promote democratic participation in their communities.
He explained that the initiative seeks to change negative perceptions surrounding civic engagement while strengthening citizens’ commitment to democratic values.
Ogunshola added that the campaign would be extended to other local government areas in the state as part of broader efforts to increase voter awareness.
“The next destination according to our plan is Alimosho, where we will continue the awareness campaign,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Springwell Development Initiative, Mrs. Feyikemi Fabiyi-Omoniyi, said the roadshow targeted residents of the Ojo community, particularly young people who are yet to obtain their voter cards.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi explained that volunteers engaged residents through the distribution of flyers and placement of stickers while also informing them about designated centres where they could register for and collect their PVCs.
She noted that the campaign also involved direct engagement with residents in markets and other public places to broaden awareness and encourage participation.
According to her observations, many older residents in the community already possess their voter cards, while a significant number of those yet to register are youths.
She disclosed that some young people expressed doubts about whether their votes would count during elections, prompting volunteers to educate them on the importance of civic participation and the power of the ballot in shaping governance.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi emphasised that citizens who demand accountability and good governance must also fulfil their democratic responsibility by registering to vote and participating in elections.
She further revealed that community ambassadors had been appointed to sustain the mobilisation campaign within the area.
“Ambassadors in the community have collected contacts of interested youths and will follow up to ensure they register and collect their PVCs,” she said.
Fabiyi-Omoniyi added that the volunteers and community ambassadors would also play a role in monitoring electoral processes during future elections to help strengthen transparency and public confidence in the democratic system.
