INEC Chairman thank Africa Union (AU) and International IDEA

Kelechi Akebueze, Representative of African Union, Mohammadu Amanga, Representative INEC Chairman and
Theophilus Dowetin, Programme Manager International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance during the African Union National Bridge Capacity Building Training for Electoral Management Bodies in Abuja.picture by TUNDE ADENIYI.on 26-11-2012.

INEC Chairman thank Africa Union (AU) and International IDEA

Olabisi Dare, Acting Director, Department of Political Affairs, African Union Commission (AUC), commends INEC having conducted free and fair general election in April 2011, making this remark during a capacity building workshop being organized for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by African Union Commission Bridge yesterday in Abuja.

AUC  National Bridge capacity building is a product of the decentralized AU-IDEA regional Bridge, AUC has been in place for over two years now and has enable AUC to reach out to and offer training to over 43 EMBs from different sub-region of Africa in various Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) processes.

The Workshop is being held against the backdrop of the Commission’s long term commitment towards the professionalization of staff in general, and more particularly as part of the preparations towards the 2015 General Elections. Since the 2011 General Elections, the Commission has been involved in the effort towards the continuous professionalization of our staff and operations. It may be recalled that among the many activities that the Commission had embarked upon since April 2011, was a similar Training Workshop for INEC Staffs, sponsored by the African Union (AU) two of the four Workshop Accrediting BRIDGE Facilitators are INEC staff and they were the product of that workshop, twenty-five staff,  three from each geo-political zone and seven from headquarters have been selected to undergo this training as part of the Commission’s effort at professionalization, the overall goal is that within a short period of time the Commission should have a crop of BRIDGE Facilitators that can drive its skills development and acquisition programme on various aspects of the electoral process.

Mohammadu Amanga, who represented the INEC Chairman at the workshop, said “It becomes highly imperative therefore that all participants take the training workshop very seriously so that at the end, you all will be better informed and well equipped to plan and manage Pre-Election activities, and I would like to draw the attention of all participants of how seriously the Commission regards this Workshop and will closely watch your performance as well as the reports of your Facilitators and enjoin all of you to give maximum attention in developing the required skills so as to enhance the Commission’s capacity in planning for future elections".

"I am also glad to observe that all three organizations have been involved in the effort towards assisting electoral management bodies in Africa to become more professional, more efficient and more focused on delivering free and fair elections", The African Union has in particular, since its 38^th Ordinary Session held in Durban, South Africa, moved towards creating institutionalized mechanisms for supporting the professionalization of Africa’s Electoral Management Bodies in fulfillment of the demands of its Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa. Similarly, both the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (Int’l IDEA) and GIZ have been involved in strengthening democratic institutions over several decades in Africa and elsewhere across the world said Jega”.

In conclusion INEC Chairman thank the Africa Union (AU) and International IDEA for supporting the workshop and also extend regards to Theophilus Dowetin, Lead Facilitator  and his Team of Co-Facilitators as they get set to undertake this great assignment and wish them a successful training sessions and very productive five days ahead.