By Akpan David, Calabar
The Evidence Group, a youth-based support organisation in Cross River State, has taken voter education, health awareness and free medical services to tertiary institutions across the northern and central senatorial districts of the state.
The initiative, which also featured the distribution of educational and welfare materials, was aimed at encouraging students to participate in the electoral process and improving their access to basic health information and support
The group began the campus tour at the Federal College of Education, Obudu, before visiting the College of Nursing Sciences, Obudu; College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja; University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Ogoja and Okuku campuses; College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi; State College of Agriculture, Obubra; and NOGAK Polytechnic, Ikom, among other institutions.
During the visits, students were sensitised on the importance of obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), understanding their voting rights and participating peacefully in elections.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the group, Andrea Ekeng, said the exercise was informed by the need to encourage greater student participation in democratic processes, noting that young people constituted a significant segment of the voting population.
The initiator of the group, Edem Bassey, said students should be more involved in issues of governance, adding that voter education would help them understand the importance of their votes and their civic responsibilities.
He also urged students to shun electoral violence and participate in elections peacefully.
Apart from the civic engagement sessions, the exercise featured free medical services, health and hygiene awareness, as well as the distribution of educational and welfare items.
The materials distributed included laptops awarded through student competitions, tablets, power banks, mattresses, food items and towels.
The initiative received commendations from some institutional officials. The Chairman of the Governing Board of the College of Nursing Sciences, Itigidi, Professor Margaret Opiah, described the voter education component as timely, saying it could help students understand their civic responsibilities and discourage electoral violence.
Similarly, a representative of the Rector of the College of Nursing Sciences, Ogoja, commended the group for extending the outreach to students, while highlighting the importance of creating a conducive environment for nursing education.
The group said it would extend the exercise to tertiary institutions in the Southern Senatorial District to cover more students across the state.
