Group takes PVC campaign to Cross River campuses

A youth organisation in Cross River State has taken its voter education campaign to tertiary institutions, seeking to mobilise students who account for an estimated 27.85 per cent of Nigeria’s voting population.
The Evidence Group said its campus tour across the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts was designed to increase students’ participation in elections, particularly through voter registration, collection of Permanent Voter Cards and peaceful voting.

The group said many students remained disconnected from the electoral process despite their significant share of the electorate, with some unaware of the importance of obtaining their PVCs and others showing little interest in voting.
Its Director of Media and Publicity, Andrea Ekeng, said the demographic figures attributed to the Independent National Electoral Commission showed that students represented a sizeable voting bloc capable of influencing electoral outcomes.

The initiator of the group, Edem Bassey, said the campaign was motivated by the need to make young people more active in governance.
“We started this because students are a very critical part of public governance and their voice must mean something,” Bassey said.
The tour began at the Federal College of Education, Obudu, and the College of Nursing Sciences, Obudu, before moving to the College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja, and the University of Cross River State campuses in Ogoja and Okuku.
Other institutions visited included the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, State College of Agriculture, Obubra, and NOGAK Polytechnic, Ikom.

Bassey said the presence of polling units in some tertiary institutions made it necessary for students to understand their electoral rights and responsibilities.
The group urged students to obtain their PVCs and participate in elections while rejecting violence and other forms of electoral misconduct.

Beyond the civic campaign, the tour featured free medical services, health and hygiene awareness activities, as well as the distribution of educational and welfare materials.

The items included laptops awarded through student competitions, tablets, power banks, mattresses, food items and towels.
Chairman of the Governing Board of the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, Professor Margaret Opiah, described the campaign as timely, saying it could help students understand their civic responsibilities and participate meaningfully in elections.

She also stressed that voter education was important in discouraging electoral violence and promoting peaceful democratic participation among young people.
At the College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja, a representative of the rector, who is also the Head of Department at the campus, commended the initiative.
The representative also acknowledged improvements in nursing education institutions across the state, attributing renewed attention to the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.

According to the representative, the colleges have experienced improvements in their learning environments, facilities and campus safety, developments said to be strengthening their capacity to meet accreditation requirements and provide quality nursing education.
The group said the initiative was well received by students, who described it as an innovative approach to civic engagement and student welfare.

The tour ended at the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, with the organisation announcing plans to extend the campaign to tertiary institutions in Cross River South Senatorial District.