EU-SDGN trains INEC officers on managing gender, disability issues

To enhance gender and disability inclusion in Nigeria’s electoral process, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance Programme (EU-SDGN) on Wednesday supported the training of desk officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The EU-SDGN aims to develop a comprehensive training manual for INEC inclusivity officers to effectively address and manage gender and disability related issues that may arise during elections.

The three-day workshop held in Abuja, provides an opportunity for relevant stakeholders to review INEC’s inclusivity manual and identify gaps and areas of improvement.

Speaking during the workshop, the Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, INEC, Lakunuya Dorathy Bello, stated that the workshop is timely and important, as it would help the Commission to discharge its mandate to promote a free, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections across the country.

She said, “The manual will assist the Commission to build the capacity of its desk officers to enable them serve the interest of inclusivity in various states. The manual will enable them perform optimally at their duties, ensuring that marginalised groups are adequately represented during elections.”

While lauding the continuous efforts of the EU to support capacity building for staff of INEC, Bello stated that the workshop helps participants to improve their skill and experience, even as time, laws, and people evolve.

In her remarks, Programme Manager, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Vaneza Gregory, said the workshop was necessitated as a result of the gap in inclusivity data for women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). “We realised a gap from the inclusivity data made available by INEC, and there a was a need to address the gap in data produced in the areas on inclusivity data for women and PWDs.”

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She stated that through the programme, 40 INEC gender desk officers from 36 states in the country will be trained over a period of one week to ensure that they are adequately equipped to effectively address and manage gender and disability-related issues.

She further disclosed that the handbook provides an overview of the legal and policy frameworks, international agreements, and practical strategies to ensure that all citizens, including women and PWDs, can participate fully in elections.

Assistant Programme Manager, TAF Africa, George Anwayi, added, “There has never been, before now, a comprehensive training manual to ensure the inclusion of marginalised groups as far as INEC is concerned. With this activity, we are able to work towards the mainstreaming of women and PWDs in electoral processes.

“There is a need for INEC staff to understand inclusivity comprehensively. This manual will therefore help to train INEC’s desk officers, who will, in turn, ensure that all marginalised groups are properly mainstreamed in all electoral processes.”

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