The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its Electoral Institute has trained its officials in better electoral management.
The electoral umpire took this proactive step by organising a comprehensive training programme for Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers (Operations), and Head of Legal Department.
The initiative was aimed at equipping them with the essential skills required to effectively manage crucial electoral processes in preparation for the Imo State Governorship Election scheduled for November 11th, 2023.
The training commenced on Monday, September 25th, 2023.
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The primary objective of this training was to ensure that participants grasp a strategic managerial approach, understand the legal framework, stay updated on technological innovations, and master the processes and procedures vital for the successful conduct of elections. Participants primarily consisted of Electoral Officers, Assistant Electoral Officers (Operations), and Heads of Legal Department.
The training kicked off promptly at 10am with participant registration and opening formalities. Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner representing the Chairman of the Board of Electoral Institute, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru, warmly welcomed the participants. She emphasized the significance of this training, highlighting how it would enhance the professionalism of Election Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers (Operations) during their electoral duties. Prof. Agu stressed that this training would elevate the managerial skills and competencies of EOs and AEOs Operations. It would also delve into critical aspects of the Guidelines and Regulations for the conduct of Elections in 2022, focusing on areas such as Voter Accreditation, Voting Procedures, Collation, and Results Transmission. The REC Imo was represented by the Administrative Secretary, Dr. Fidelis Uguru.
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Dr. Sa’ad Umar Idris, the Director General of the Electoral Institute, echoed these sentiments in his welcome address, emphasizing the importance of trainers acquainting themselves with the processes and procedures influenced by the Commission’s innovations. He underlined the pivotal roles played by Electoral Officers and Assistant Electoral Officers in the electoral process and stressed the necessity of this capacity-building workshop. Dr. Idris explained that the training methodology had been thoughtfully designed to cover topics on Management, the Legal Framework for Elections, ICT-driven innovations, and key activities within the Electoral Cycle. He encouraged participants to make the most of this valuable opportunity.
In her goodwill address, the Director of Training, Dr. Binta Mohammed Kasim, urged participants to seize this training as a unique learning curve to sharpen their skill sets as election managers at the local government level.
The five-day Technical Training included modules on Strategic Management for Electoral Officers, Voter Education, and Management, Recruitment, Training, and Deployment of Registration Election Personnel, among other critical topics. The workshop promises to empower electoral officials with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure a seamless and successful 2023 Governorship Election in Imo State.
