News
Bolt Partners WeVote to Inspire Voter Registration
In partnership with ACE Centre’s WeVote initiative, leading ride-hailing platform Bolt has launched its MyPVCJourney (My Permanent Voter Registration Journey) initiative as part of its community engagement efforts.
This program aims to educate Nigerians and promote non-partisan voter awareness and participation in the Nigerian Electoral Process. The strategic partnership also serves as a form of social accountability, by educating Nigerians on their civic rights, responsibilities– creating a step-by-step awareness program on the country’s PVC registration and collection processes.
With transportation being a key factor limiting voter participation, MyPVCJourney further aims to reduce the challenges of electoral participation by providing mobility for Nigerians, to identify and access their nearest PVC registration locations.
The initiative also encourages individuals to pledge via a newly launched microsite by Bolt, with over 16,000 Nigerians showing their commitment to the PVC process.
“Our community engagement efforts as an organisation includes various initiatives to continuously show our commitment to developing the socio-political and economic landscape in Nigeria”, says Femi Akin-Laguda, Country Manager for Bolt. “As the leading ride-hailing platform in the country, we work closely with relevant stakeholders like the ACE Centre, to create a direct positive impact on communities, showcased with initiatives like MyPVCJourney”. “As a partner for growth, we understand that we have a responsibility to educate and create awareness for more people to be part of the electoral process and how this initiative can inspire and help them achieve social accountability”, he added.
Also commenting on the initiative, Obinna Osisiogu, Executive Director at ACE Centre and Convener of the WeVote initiative, said, “As a non-partisan and non-governmental organisation, we are determined to reduce voter apathy to its lowest level, especially among young, upwardly mobile Nigerians. We applaud Bolt for its commitment through its MyPVCJourney initiative to mobilise Nigerians to register and vote by making it easier to locate and visit PVC registration centres.
WeVote is pleased to collaborate with Bolt as a knowledge and creative partner on this initiative. We are designed to leverage collaborations with the private and public sectors, faith-based organisations, non-profits, and other stakeholders of good governance to ensure the message that ‘every vote count’ is spread to every corner of the country. We hope other organisations can key into this movement to ensure every eligible Nigerian is registered to vote.”
Advocacy for Civic Engagement Centre (ACE Centre) is a youth-led NGO working through the WeVote initiative to encourage voter participation.
The MyPVCJourney initiative by Bolt helps Nigerians locate PVC centres around their vicinity while providing ride incentives to collection points after pledging via the microsite to register.
News
Legit.ng, Shade of Life Foundation Partner to Advance Autism Awareness in Nigeria
Legit.ng recently joined forces with the Shade of Life Foundation to become a voice of autism, and drive advocacy for improved media support during Autism Awareness Month.
Conversations around media support exploration was led by Joseph Omotayo, head of Department for Human Interest Stories at Legit.ng, and Dr. Eziafakaku Nwokolo, founder and CEO of the Shade of Life Foundation,
This partnership is a response to the concerns raised by organizations like the Shade of Life Foundation about the level of support received from the media in discussing autism as a disability.
While other disabilities may receive attention, autism, with its critical developmental implications often lacks adequate representation in mainstream media.
Recognizing the importance of addressing these concerns, Legit.ng took proactive steps by integrating itself into the essence of autism awareness.
It facilitated a one-hour workshop with Dr. Nwokolo, the founder of the foundation, to deepen our understanding of autism, its various spectrums, and the language boundaries associated with it.
Other steps we took in advocating autism awareness in the media, can be seen in our attached press release.
Legit.ng believes that by amplifying the voices of autism and advocating for better media representation, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
News
As Nigeria Struggle, Tanzania Turns off Power Plants Due to Excess Supply
While 85 per cent of Nigeria is in darkness, Tanzania, an African country has shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in the national grid.
Kassim Majaliwa, prime minister, Tanzania, has said the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station, alone generated enough electricity to power major cities, including Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania, which suffers chronic power shortages, has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much, we have no allocation now,” an official from state-run power company, Tanesco, said.
The 2,115MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to be almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile, while the country has an installed capacity of 1,938MW and the grid installed capacity of 1,899MW, Nigeria which has an installed capacity of 13,000MW is struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
News
President Tinubu Appoints Jim Ovia as Student Loan Fund Chairman
President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Ovia’s appointment is contained in a State House statement titled, ‘President Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as Chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,’ and issued on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, special adviser to the President, Media & Publicity.
The statement noted that “Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
“He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.”
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
“The President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds,” the statement partly read.
Ovia’s appointment will also ensure “that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.”
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