DESCRIPTION

Nigeria’s elections have frequently struggled with low citizen participation, a challenge particularly evident among the youth, who represent the country’s largest demographic but often remain disengaged. To directly address this gap, the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to establish and train the Civic and Voter Education (CVE) CDS Group. By equipping corps members to serve as active civic ambassadors, this initiative transforms them into community mobilizers capable of driving voter education and democratic awareness at the grassroots level. Over three days, KDI successfully trained more than 2,600 NYSC volunteers across 35 states and the FCT in democracy, governance, and the electoral process. The curriculum focused on essential topics such as citizen rights, political inclusion, and the stages of the electoral cycle. By analyzing historical voter turnout data and the occurrence of invalid ballots, participants examined the key factors contributing to civic apathy, while also learning practical methods to identify misinformation and promote peaceful participation. This initiative establishes a structured, sustainable platform for grassroots civic engagement by integrating voter education into the weekly NYSC Community Development Service (CDS) framework. The effort reflects a collaborative commitment by KDI, NYSC officials, and state partners to support and build an informed electorate.