By: Our Reporter, Calabar
The youth-based support group combines PVC sensitisation and voter education with free medical services, health awareness and distribution of educational and welfare materials.
Evidence Group, a youth-based support group in Cross River State, has successfully concluded its campus tour across the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts of the state, in an initiative aimed at promoting voter participation, civic responsibility and student engagement in the electoral process
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The tour, which commenced on Wednesday, began at the Federal College of Education, Obudu, and proceeded to the College of Nursing Sciences, Obudu.
The team subsequently visited the College of Nursing Science, Ogoja, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Ogoja Campus, and Okuku Campus in the Northern Senatorial District.
Other institutions visited included the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, State College of Agriculture, Obubra, and NOGAK Polytechnic, Ikom, among others.
The exercise was primarily centred on Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) sensitisation, voter education and encouraging students to take an active interest in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking on the rationale behind the initiative, the group, the Director Media and Publicity, Andrea Ekeng explained that, according to demographic figures attributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), students constitute approximately 27.85 per cent of the country’s voting population, making them a significant demographic whose participation could influence electoral outcomes.
The group noted that despite the considerable voting strength of students, many remain disconnected from the electoral process, with some unaware of the importance of registering for and collecting their PVCs, while others demonstrate little interest in voting during elections.
“We started this because students are a very critical part of public governance and their voice must mean something”, the Initiator of Evidence Group, Mr Edem Bassey said.
He further observed that several tertiary institutions have designated polling units within their campuses, making it even more important for students to understand their electoral rights and responsibilities and participate actively in the democratic process.
Consequently, the group encouraged students to exercise their constitutional and civic responsibilities by obtaining their PVCs and turning out to vote during elections, while also emphasising the need for peaceful participation and the rejection of electoral violence.
Beyond voter education, the campus tour featured free medical outreach, health and hygiene awareness campaigns, as well as the distribution of various educational and welfare materials to students
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Items distributed included laptops awarded through student competitions, tablets, power banks, mattresses, food items, towels and several other gift items designed to support students and improve their welfare
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The initiative was warmly received across the institutions, with students expressing excitement over what they described as an innovative approach to youth engagement, civic education and student support.
Speaking on the exercise, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, Professor Margaret Opiah, described the initiative as timely and commendable, noting that it would encourage students to participate meaningfully in the electoral process and better understand their civic responsibilities.
She further stressed the importance of voter education in discouraging electoral violence, observing that sensitising young people about peaceful democratic participation was essential to strengthening the nation’s electoral culture.
Similarly, the Rector of the College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja, represented by the Head of Department at the Ogoja campus, commended the group for the initiative.
The representative described the exercise as laudable and used the opportunity to acknowledge the transformation taking place across the state’s nursing education institutions, attributing the renewed attention and improvements to the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
According to see the representative, the nursing colleges across Cross River State have witnessed renewed institutional attention, providing students with a more conducive learning environment, improved facilities and safer campuses. The representative also noted the importance of these developments in strengthening the institutions’ capacity to meet accreditation requirements and deliver quality nursing education.
The campus tour concluded at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, where the group announced plans to extend the initiative to tertiary institutions across the Southern Senatorial District, thereby expanding its reach and deepening its engagement with students across the state.
