“Voter Education Must Be Continuous, Not Seasonal” — Abosede George-Ogan
Executive Director of the Women in Leadership Advancement Network (WLAN), Abosede George-Ogan, has emphasized that voter education must be a continuous process rather than an activity tied only to election periods. Speaking on Electoral Reform Half Hour on NTA News24, she said Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive if citizens are only educated on voting procedures shortly before elections.
Abosede described civic education as the foundation of democratic participation, stressing that consistent awareness helps citizens understand not just how to vote, but why their vote matters. “Voter education should not begin six months before elections. It must be sustained through schools, media, and community programs so that people know their rights and responsibilities,” she said.
She urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations to adopt inclusive approaches that reach rural communities, women, and persons with disabilities. According to her, civic content must be translated into local languages and simplified for better understanding.
On women’s political representation, George-Ogans reaffirmed that the campaign for reserved seats for women in parliament is not a form of tokenism but a corrective measure to address decades of exclusion. She lamented that Nigeria still ranks among the lowest in Africa for women’s representation, with only about 4% of its lawmakers being female.
“The idea of reserved seats is not to hand out political gifts but to create fair opportunities,” she said. “When women are part of decision-making, the quality of democracy improves.”
Abosede called for collaboration between political parties, government institutions, and the private sector to strengthen voter education and participation. She added that civic enlightenment must be sustained beyond election cycles if Nigeria hopes to achieve credible and inclusive elections in 2027.
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