In a bid to mobilize and encourage youth’s participation in the democratic process in Enugu state and Nigeria at large, the Enugu Literary society, ELS, in collaboration with the West Africa Broadcast & Media Academy, WABMA, hosted a Chorale competition for youth choirs drawn from the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State.
Speaking at the Grand Finale of the Chorale competition, Mr. Ken Ike Okere, a co-founder ELS, and WABMA consultant reveal that the competition is an outcome of the open conversation the organizers had with over 200 young persons on youth participation in the democratic process even as the 2023 general election is around the corner.
Okere explained that the response of the youths to why they do not participate in the democratic process was instructive and birthed the Chorale competition.
“They suggested that the democratic process should be fun, more convenient, and brought closer to them; music is a common area young persons are interested in,” Okere said.
The goal is to change the narrative as statistics reveal that many Nigerian youths do not register to vote, vote, or run for elections; many youths are not party members or volunteer to be community mobilizers.
In earlier interventions, the organizers had trained more than 200 young persons from the 17LGAs in the state on political enlightenment; how to join political parties, run for an election, raise money for an election, volunteer as community mobilizers, and understand the 2022 Electoral Act.
“The final part of the intervention will be a musical concert slated for February 2023; to entertain the youths, guest artists will be invited and the entrance fee is the Permanent Voters Card, PVC,” Okere disclosed.
The show your PVC entrance fee strategy is designed to draw the attention of the youths to the power they wield with their cards; our future is in our hands.
Out of the 7 youth choirs shortlisted for the competition, 5 emerged to participate at the grand finale; the prizes won by the winner and runner-ups are N1million, N750, 000 and N500, 000 by the Unashamed choir, the Chronicles chorale, and the Ecklef Chorus respectively.
Vote with your Voice program was sponsored by Ford Foundation; it featured Choral Competition, Christmas concert, Orchestra, spoken words, storytelling, and awards.
The event was held at a hall in Neuropsychiatric Hospital, New Haven in Enugu state on Saturday, 10th December 2022.
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