The Training Department of the Electoral Institute conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) on Friday 13th October, 2023 at TEI Auditorium in preparation for the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi State Governorship Elections scheduled to hold on the 11th November, 2023.
The Chairman Board of Electoral Institute and National Commissioner, Prof. Abdullahi Abdu Zuru in his opening remarks highlighted the significance of the ToT as the first and essential step in the implementation of the approved cascade training plan for the Governorship Elections in the affected States.
He stated further that participants are to train 1st level Trainers and ensure their mastery of critical processes and procedures to improve the quality of Electoral training of Adhoc personnel by the Commission. He thereafter thanked the participants made up of TEI and Headquarters Trainers for attending the program.
The Director General of the Electoral Institute Dr. Sa'ad Umar Idris in his welcome remarks said in preparation for the 2023 General Elections, TEI deployed the INEC E-School, the INEC Chat-Bot and the INEC Training Reporting and Coordination Tool which were not fully utilized due to time and operational constraints. "You will be taken through their operations and tasked with the responsibility of ensuring they are utilized during the cascade training for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi."
He therefore urged all Trainers, Coordinating Trainers and State Training Officers (STOs) to please give this training all the attention it deserves as the task of conducting a successful election come 11th November 2023 is a shared responsibility.
He also urged participants to interrogate and ensure the cascade of the Electoral process and procedures including all Technological innovations introduced by the Commission. He asserted that emphasis should be given to the mastering of the operations of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for the accreditation of voters, the newly improved INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and the filling and completion of all forms .
The Country Director, IFES, Mr. Seray underscored the very good working relationship that exist between IFES and the TEI. He charged participants to ensure quality and effective step down of the training so as to ensure optimum performance of Poll Officials on Election duty. He expressed his appreciation to be invited to the ToT and pledged further support to Commission activities.
In attendance at the Training are Director, Training, Dr. Binta Kasim Mohammed, Director Research and Documentation Dr. Ibrahim Sani and Administrative Secretary of the Institute, Mr. Tunde Ojedokun.
Presentations were made on INEC E- School, INEC Training Bot and INEC Training Reporting and Coordination tool.
The ICT dept, Electoral Operations and Gender and Inclusivity depts also made presentations to update and bring Trainers to speed on the Electoral process.