To promote gender and disability inclusion in Nigeria’s electoral process, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance Programme (EU-SDGN) has facilitated the training of desk officers at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A statement released by the EU-SDGN’s public affairs office on Friday highlighted that the training aimed to develop a comprehensive manual for INEC's inclusivity officers, equipping them with the necessary tools to address and manage gender and disability-related challenges during elections.
The three-day workshop, held in Abuja, provided an opportunity for key stakeholders to review and identify potential gaps in INEC’s inclusivity manual, and to discuss areas for improvement.
During the workshop, Lakunuya Bello, Director of INEC’s Gender and Inclusivity Department, emphasized the timeliness and importance of the training. She noted that it would enhance the Commission's ability to carry out its mandate of promoting free, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections across Nigeria.
“The manual will help the Commission build the capacity of its desk officers to support inclusivity in all states," Bello explained. "It will ensure they perform their duties effectively, ensuring marginalized groups are properly represented during elections.”
Bello also praised the EU’s continued support for INEC staff capacity building, noting that the workshop would improve participants’ skills and knowledge in response to evolving societal needs, laws, and time.
Vaneza Gregory, Programme Manager of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, also addressed the gap in inclusivity data for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs). "We identified a gap in the inclusivity data shared by INEC, particularly regarding women and PWDs," Gregory said. She revealed that, through the programme, 40 INEC gender desk officers from across Nigeria will undergo training over a week to better manage gender and disability-related issues.
Gregory added that the new manual outlines the legal and policy frameworks, international agreements, and practical strategies that ensure the full participation of all citizens, including women and PWDs, in the electoral process.
George Anwayi, Assistant Programme Manager at TAF Africa, further commented, “This is the first comprehensive training manual aimed at ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups in INEC's processes. This initiative will support the mainstreaming of women and PWDs in elections.”
He emphasized the importance of ensuring that INEC staff fully understands the concept of inclusivity, noting that this manual will help train desk officers who will, in turn, ensure marginalized groups are well-represented throughout the electoral process.
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