The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) has begun the training of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on reporting and communication skills.
The Deputy Project Coordinator of ECES, Mr Wilson Manji, said this on Monday at a four-day capacity building workshop on reporting and communication skills in Akwanga.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was organised for 35 staff of the Election and Party Monitory (EPM) department of INEC.
Manji said the training would ensure effective service delivery by enhancing the writing and communication skills of INEC personnel.
“This workshop brings together staff from the three divisions within the EPM which include the Political Party Registration, the Political Party Monitoring and the Election Monitoring and Observation.
“The objectives of this workshop are to practise audience analysis, develop suitable communication strategies for internal and external purposes.
“It will improve the ability of the staff in both written and oral communication skills,” he said.
According to him, the training is in furtherance of the support which ECES has been providing to the department within the framework of European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.
“ECES also focuses on providing technical assistance to INEC and SIECs.
“ECES had provided support to the INEC through the review of its communication policy, which has long been validated.
“This now serves as a guide towards improving not just internal but external communication with stakeholders,” he added.
According to the deputy project coordinator, communication promotes transparency and integrity, and that it is a much needed ingredient for the consolidation of democracy.
“Our sincere appreciation goes to the European Union, our donors not just in Nigeria but also in other parts of the world,” he said.
He urged the participants to use the knowledge gained to take INEC and Nigeria to the greater heights.
Mr Aminu Kasimu-Idris, the Director, Election and Party Monitoring, INEC, lauded ECES for the training and for supporting the activities of INEC in the country.
Kasimu-Idris also said the training would go a long way in enhancing the capacities of the staff of the commission for quality service delivery.
The director urged the participants to take the training with all the seriousness it deserved for the overall development of the country.
He said the commission would continue to collaborate with security agencies and other bodies toward tackling votes buying/selling in the country.
Responding, Nkechi Abuh, a participant, thanked the ECES and the commission for the training.
“This training will enable us identify and distinguish different types of writing skills among other objectives,” she said.
She assured of the participants’ readiness to use the knowledge gained while discharging their duties. (NAN)