By Abasi Ita
The Centre for Development Support Initiatives, CEDSI Nigeria, has intensified voter registration mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections with the launch of its Voters Outreach Inspiring Civic Engagement project, known as Project VOICE, at Rivers State University.
The initiative, supported by the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund and hosted by the university with the Independent National Electoral Commission as a key partner, is designed as a youth focused and youth driven platform to promote participation in civic, electoral and leadership processes.
The launch attracted more than 350 VOICE ambassadors, marking a strong push to deepen voter education and engagement among young people.
The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb Obipi, who declared the project open also inaugurated the VOICE RSU ambassadors and approved the use of project resource materials for capacity building. The Vice Chancellor who was represented at the event by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Professor Blessing Jaja, emphasised the need for sustained youth engagement in voter education across the campus and host community to maximum participation.
The event, attended by members of the university community including deans, heads of departments, as well as academic and non academic staff, featured lecture sessions on civic education, leadership development, voter registration and electoral processes. Other highlights included onsite voter registration for youths at the venue, an awards ceremony, presentations to the Vice Chancellor and student experience sharing.
The founding Executive Director of CEDSI, Professor Mina Ogbanga, said the initiative builds on recent successes recorded in tertiary institutions where targeted outreach programmes boosted voter registration among students and surrounding communities.
“The goal is to ensure that every eligible citizen has the opportunity to register and participate in the electoral process,” she said, noting that the project is designed to bring registration services closer to the people.
She explained that the current phase focuses on expanding access to registration centres, raising awareness on the importance of voting and addressing barriers that prevent eligible citizens from obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards.
According to her, partnerships with key stakeholders, including electoral authorities and youth groups, are being strengthened to ensure wider reach and improved participation in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
Professor Ogbanga stressed the importance of youth inclusion in the democratic process. “We must engage our youths because they represent the future of our democracy,” she said, adding that the organisation will continue to expand campus based and community outreach programmes.
Also speaking, the Project Manager of CEDSI, Chinwendu Blessing, urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing registration exercise.
“Active participation is key to strengthening democracy and ensuring credible elections in 2027,” she said.
Observers applauded CEDSI for the initiative, noting that it has the potential to galvanise communities toward greater participation and reduce voter apathy during elections. They added that credible voter registration data remains vital for political planning and economic development, as accurate databases enable governments to design targeted policies, improve resource allocation and strengthen electoral transparency, while also helping political actors better understand demographic trends and promote inclusive governance.