KDI's ELECTION DATA DASHBOARD

The first 'High-Level National Dialogue on Electoral Violence Mitigation' was held by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), on the 19th of January 2023 at Abuja Continental Hotel (Former Sheraton Hotel). The parley was to support non-violent electoral processes during the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria. I was a valued stakeholder at the event, where the 'Election Data Dashboard' was launched. The discussion was around the state of electoral violence and the future of Nigeria's elections.

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the lobby of the hotel just before the commencement of the dialogue

In my intervention, I pointed out that 'prebendalism' (money politics) is the bane of politics in Nigeria. When an individual spends billions of Naira to 'secure' the ticket of a Political Party to run for a particular post, if/when he/she is eventually 'elected' into office, the first assignment would be to 'recoup' what was spent! Hence the wheel of corruption keeps turning. I also talked about the below par space for for the female gender to participate in politics. The 'feminisation' of poverty is a major drawback for women.

Some of the participants at the discourse are:

*Santiago Stalker - Country Director, International Republican Institute (IRI)

*Dr. Ayibakuro Matthew - Governance Adviser, FCDO

*Usman Alkali Baba (Represented) - Inspector General of Police

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Independent Conflict Transformation Strategist/Gender Specialist & Former Director, Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja

*Prof. Oluremi Sonaiya - Board Member, KDI/Panelist

*Ms. Ene Ede - Board Member, KDI/Gender Activist

*Ms. Ndi Kato - Spokesperson for the Labour Party PCC/Panelist

*Mrs. Lynda Bala - First Vice President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)/Panelist

Other documents published by KDI and disseminated at the dialogue were:

*'Know The Figures' - Analysis of candidates & political parties in Nigeria's upcoming 2023 general elections

*Advance: Women's Political Participation in Nigeria

*Understanding Voters: Dynamics behind voters' behaviour & experience

The comments made by the speakers can be distilled into the following points:

*More technology should be deployed in the electoral process, so that citizens would no longer need to gather at polling stations on election day. We should eventually reach the stage when we can conveniently vote from our bedrooms. This may take some time because of the level of illiteracy, poverty and internet penetration of the rural and semi-urban areas. But there was optimism that we'll get there some day...

*Threat analysis by the Armed Forces is constantly going on in Nigeria. This needs to be stepped up towards the elections.

*There should be stricter penalties for electoral malfeasance and related crimes. Impunity must stop!

*There should be specialised media reportage of elections and indeed the electoral process.

*Cyber-policing of comments and behaviour that relate to the electoral process should be stepped up.

It is expected that the dialogue would be:

*Disseminated to relevant stakeholders - Government, the organised private sector, CBOs, CSOs, etc.

*Credible inputs into subsequent reform the electoral law and policies.

*Support electoral planning.

*Increase public awareness of electoral violence and accountability for same.

*Advocate non-violence in elections.

*Solicit stakeholders' commitment to non-violence in elections.

*Disseminate KDI's long term electoral violence data & Election Security Risks Assessment & Violence Hotspot Report.

The beauty of this parley is that quantitative analysis informed the discourse. An example is that in May 2022, the level of violence Nigeria was highest. Why was that? The Party Primaries were held then, and the level of desperation by candidates and their supporters to secure Party tickets resulted in monumental violence.

Kudos to Bukola Idowu (Executive Director, KDI), Sarah Tama (Programme Manager Elections, KDI) and the rest of the formidable team for a successful outing... 

 

 

HEALTHCARE TRANSFORMATION COALITION (HTC): PUTTING HEALTH ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA IN NIGERIA

Health is created at home. Sickness takes you to the hospital for repairs - Dr. Garuba.

Dr. Garuba was one of the panelists. He made the above statement, which captured the mood of the conference held at the Rainbow Event Marquee, Abuja on the 13th of January 2023. The theme was: HTC repositioning the health sector & creating the pathway to an effective health system...

L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Sen. Dr. Aliu Sabi Abdullahi (Representative of Sen. Kashim Shettima)

The conference was convened by Dr. Jide Idris, (former Commissioner for Health, Lagos state), while the co-convener was Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim (former Commissioner for Health, Borno state). The former highlighted the giant strides in the health sector under Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos state while the latter intimated the audience with the fact that in spite of insecurity in Borno state, Sen. Aliyu Shettima, improved the health sector while he was Governor. Both Tinubu and Shettima are the presidential and Vice Presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.

Photo L-R: Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim (fmr. Commissioner for Health, Borno state & Co-convener), Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Sen. Dr. Aliu Sabi Abdullahi (Representative of Sen. Kashim Shettima) & a journalist

There were four sub-themes:

*Political economy of health in Nigeria: Lessons learnt from putting health on the political agenda

*Building a resilient health sector for emergencies & displaced persons/Sustainable health systems at the state level

*Mobilising domestic resources for health/Financing Nigeria's UHC aspirations

*Addressing Nigeria's healthcare infrastructure deficit: A proposal to rapidly re-build Nigeria's health infrastructure stock

Some of the participants were:

*Dr. Jide Idris - Convener/Fmr. Commissioner for Health, Lagos state

*Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim - Co-convener/Fmr. Commissioner for Health, Borno state

*Dr. Osagie Ohanire - Minister for Health

*Dr. Pamela Ajayi - President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria

*Dr. Ikechukwu Odikpo - Director (Medical) PCC

*Dr. Tunde Ayeye - CEO IFS Group

*Dr. Mohammed Lecky - Fmr. DG NHIS & INEC Federal Commissioner

*Dr. Shuaib Faisal - DG NPHCDA

*Sen Dr. Lanre Tejuoso - Pro Chancellor University of Lagos

*Dr. Chika Offor - Chair, Health Sector Reform Coalition

*Comrade Alli Abana - Community Health Expert

*Dr. Femi Ogunremi - CEO Monitor Healthcare

*Dr. Akin Abayomi - HC Health, Lagos state

*Dr. Ngozi Onyia - MD Paelon

*Pharmacist Erelu Munair - Pharmacist

*Dr. Obinna Onwujekwe - Health Economist

*Dr. Gafar Alawode - DGI Consult

*Dr. Ejike Oji - SSA Health & Human Services to Minister, FCT

*Dr. Tunde Ipaye - Fmr. Commissioner of Health, Ogun state

*Mrs Njide Nidili - MD Pharm Access Foundation

*Prof. Nasir Sambo - DG, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)

*Dr. Walter Olatunde - Social Infrastructure Consultant

*Ms Vivianne Ihekweazu - MD, Nigeria Healthwatch

*Prof Akin Mabogunje - President, National Postgraduate Medical College

*Mrs Fola Laoye - CEO, Iwosan

*Hon. Juliana Bitrus - Fmr. Health Commissioner, Borno state

*Dr. Yemi Johnson - CEO, First Cardiology Consultants

*Dr. John Okoh - Founder/CEO Renal Dialysis Centre

Some of the issues discussed were:

*UHC is a sine qua non for guaranteeing the average citizen in Nigeria support for various kinds of illness. The target should be UHC by 2030.

*There should be continuous improvement in healthcare

*There should be coordinated emergency medical service.

*Lessons learnt from putting health on the front burner need to be continuously documented.

*3% of the national budget allocated to health in Nigeria is very poor. Botswana is 6%, while the UK is 12%...

*Paying at the point of care is a dis-service to the citizens.

*Government should be an enabler of resilient health services in the private sector.

*There should be robust plans/template for tackling healthcare during emergencies: pandemics, insurgency, war, climate change, etc. IDPs need to be taken into account. The Health System should be a continuum, don't wait for the next pandemic. Never waste lessons learnt from a crisis.

*The health paradigm should involve other relevant Ministries, Parastatals, and indeed the private sector.

*UHC via the HTC would ensure that medical tourism by Nigerian patients is kept to the barest minimum.

*There is the need to deploy more technology for solving problems in the health sector. Artificial Intelligence (AI), including robotics and Open AI/GPT-3 should be used.

*We need to horizontalise erstwhile vertical programmes in the health sector.

*Fertility rate should be reduced.

*Continuous Research & Development (R&D) in the health sector. There should be a separate fund apart from TETFUND to take care of health research.

The consensus was that with health on the front burner of the political agenda, the citizens have a better deal as regards solution to health challenges. Always remember that building health at home is an incremental process of daily healthy habits. We should not wait to fall ill before realising the importance of health. Health is wealth, indeed...The conversation continues...

 

16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)

Between the 25th of November and 10th of December every year there is activism against GBV world wide. All events I attend during this period, I ensure that the colour theme, orange, is my logo as regards my dressing. This year, the theme is 'Unite: Activism to end violence against women & girls'. So far, I have attended two major events during this period. *The 'Seed Connect' Conference on the 28th of November 2022, where I sought collaboration within the seed (in agriculture) value chain and the Forum on Farmer-Herder Relations in Nigeria (FFARN). I am a valued member of the 'Coordinating Committee' of FFARN. *On the 30th of November, I attended the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) parley with theme: 'Women & youth inclusion in peace & security architecture in Nigeria: Understanding the resistance & bureaucracy'. I was the lead presenter for the topic: 'The UN peace & security agenda in Nigeria via the lens of women, peace & security (WPS)'.

Representing the women folk via the colour orange: the colour for the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV @ the 'Seed Connect' conference...Orange sunglasses, face mask, headgear, dress, bangles, rings and shoes...

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa speaking @ the 'Seed Connect' conference. Note her orange shoes, rings & clothes: colour for the 16 days of activism against GBV. 

                                                                  Dayo on the red carpet

Dayo @ the FES conference on Women & youth in the UN Peace & Security agenda

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Susan Uwakwe (Desk Officer on SGBV & Youth, IPCR)

I keep moving during these 16 days of activism and always to ensure zero tolerance for GBV in Nigeria... 

  

CREATIVE ARTS FOR PEACE

For about two weeks I was a stakeholder in endeavours aimed at utilising creative arts (sculptor, painting, drawing, acting, film making/screening, etc.) for engendering peace. Between the 27th and 30th of October 2022, the International Institute for Creative Development (IICD) held its annual 'Abuja Open House' where galleries and art spaces in Abuja were open to invited guests. Some of the galleries and spaces are: Moeshen gallery, Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, IICD Centre, House 33, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Fraser Suites, Nordic Hotel, Mambaah Cafe, Institute Francais, Turkish Embassy, Orisun Art Gallery, Cafe de Vie, Hare & Grouse, ArtLife @ GreenHouse, Yunus Emre Institute & Matrix Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Between the 31st of October and 3rd of November 2022, the 19th annual Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) was held at Siverbird Cinemas, Abuja. The festival featured film screenings, discussion panels, workshops, master classes & awards. 

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & wife of GM Fraser Suites, Abuja. Some of the paintings of Timi Kakandar are displayed in the background...

The theme of IICD's 'Open House' for 2022 is 'The Convergence'. According to IICD, the Art Spaces & Galleries are now future spaces of physical encounter, engagement, exchange of ideas - ideologies, environmental issues and cultural exchange. Social, political, economic and ecological issues are discussed in these spaces. There is also historical content. Questions are asked and answered. The spaces showcase culture, style, music, food, trends and fashion...

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Mrs. Temitope Duker (Festival Director) @ the Closing Ceremony of the 19th Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF)

IICD's theme, 'The Convergence', began as 'a hybrid conversation, a coming together of all the fragmented elements in a mapped trajectory - the social, economic, political, ecological and historical trajectories in convergence. Convergence is built on the truth about the city, Abuja, as a place of convergence. Abuja Open House (AOH) brought to life the creative sanctity of the city - it's an inventory and an adventure. Guests were invited to walk on a shore of intangible and tangible footprints. It's a journey - one step in the past - two steps in the present. We all converged to re-imagine our identity and our shared experiences'. (Source: AOH Leaflet)

Photo L-R: Mohamad Khechen (Lebanese-Nigerian Founder/Curator, Moeshen Art Gallery - MAG) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ MAG, Life Camp, Abuja

Photo L-R: Dotun Popoola (Sculptor extraordinaire a.k.a. 'Welder of the Federal Republic of Nigeria') & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ The Turkish Embassy, Abuja...Dotun was sponsored by the Turkish Embassy to Ankara. He created a RAM from scrap material, which is displayed at the entrance of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara!...

Dayo @ the Turkish Embassy, Abuja with the smaller version of the RAM sculptured by Dotun Popoola in Ankara, Turkey. This small ram is also a product of Dotun's creativity...

Dayo in her element @ Fraser Suites, where Timi Kakandar's paintings were on display

Artiste, Timi Kakandar's profile displayed alongside his works @ Fraser Suites, Abuja

                      Dayo @ Silverbird Cinemas: @ the Opening Ceremony of the AIFF...

                                       Dayo @ Silverbird Cinemas on the 2nd day of the AIFF

Dayo on the grounds of Nordic Hotel, Abuja, when I sneaked out of the main exhibition hall to have some 'me time' on the swing outside

               Painting: CAGED: African Beauty by Timi Kakandar @ Fraser Suites

                             Painting - 'Take me to safety' @ Nordic Hotel: Artist unknown

For almost two weeks, I had a swell time in Galleries/Art Spaces & Siverbird Cinemas...Beautiful paintings, delicately sculptured 'themes', screening of meaningful short movies that depict the essence of the 17 SDGs/motivation for peace were more than delightful. I look forward to the next edition of both the IICD Abuja Open House and the AIFF... Cheers!

 

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SECURITY THREATS & THE 2023 ELECTIONS

Between the 26th and 27th of October 2022, 'Multidimensional security threats in Nigeria: Challenges, options & opportunities for the 2023 general elections' was the subject matter of intensive discourse under the auspices of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The parley was held at the De Silver Green Hotel, Abuja. Some of the sub-themes were:

*Gender, youth, cyber threats & managing narratives: A build up to the 2023 general elections.

*Security sector oversight of the electoral process and the inter-agency consultative committee on election security (ICCES): An agenda for a new strategy

*Cyber threats & managing narratives around elections.

*ICCES: Agenda for a new strategy.

Photo L-R: Matthias Dold (First Secretary, Political Affairs, German Embassy & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

Some of the participants are:

*Dr. Daniel Mann - Resident Representative, FES-Nigeria

*Matthias Dold - First Secretary, Political Affairs, German Embassy

*Oseloka Obaze - Keynote Speaker         *Dr. Hakeem Tijani

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa                         *Dr. Freedom Onuoha 

*Salaudeen Hashim                                  *Dr. Chris Kwaja

*Florence Kayemba                                  *Dr. Pauline Igbokwe                                

*Dr. Sunday Adejoh                                  *Dr. Olajumoke Jenyo

*Dr. Babatunde Gbolahan                         *Dr. Pauline Igbokwe

*Mrs. Ayesha Yesufu

             Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa on the first day of the conference @ the Experts' meeting...

Some highlights of the deliberations are as follows:

*The role of social (new) media would be germane in teasing out narratives before, during and after elections.

*Hate speech, fake news, misinformation and disinformation, deep face, cyber bullying, etc. need to be tackled headlong.

*Victory via the ballot box vs victory via Court pronouncement needs to be interrogated.

*The role of non-state violent actors, and their capacity to derail the electoral process needs to be monitored. The privatisation of security outfits is a case in point.

*Prebendalism and the transactional nature of the electoral process is a danger signal.

*The youth bulge, the critical mass of which are illiterate/unemployed youth needs to be burst in order to prevent/mitigate violence.

*There is a lacuna in the composition of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). Academics, CSOs and relevant individuals need to be coopted.

*Mandate protection is essential during elections.

*Violence against women in elections and indeed politics (VAWiP) needs to be given special attention, beyond tackling violence against persons.

                                                Dayo on the first day of the conference
 

*Rivalry among security agencies needs to give way to effective cooperation for peaceful elections.

*There are real and imagined threats to the realisation of peaceful elections.

*The increasing role of technology in improving the integrity of elections is welcome. There is a caveat, however: Ethics and protection of data stored in the 'cloud' is necessary.

*Surveillance of the physical space by the security forces should extend to cyberspace in order to capture online and off-line engagement on the electoral process and societal peace in general.

On the whole, we had useful conversation. If the recommendations are taken seriously by the relevant authorities, we may see peaceful, relatively free, fair and credible elections in the horizon in 2023...

 

NIGERIA: AMPLIFYING THE VOICE OF WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE

On the 25th of October 2022 in Abuja, the 6th edition of the Voice of Women (VoW) Conference & Awards was held in Abuja with theme - 'Towards rebuilding Nigeria: Agenda setting for inclusivity & accountability'.Six Presidential candidates were there live to reel out their 'plans' for women viz; Ado Ibrahim Abdulmalik (YPP), Peter Obi (LP), Adebayo Adewole (SDP), Bola Tinubu represented by Shettima (APC), Dumebi Kachiku (ADP) & Al Mustapha (AA).

Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Toun Okewale-Sonaiya (CEO Women Radio 91.7 & Conference Convener)

The thrust of the commitment to improving the lot of the female gender according to the Presidential candidates present follows:

*Effective institutional framework to tackle bender based violence (GBV).

*Implementation of Affirmative Action (@ least 35%)

*Review of legislation that promotes the rights of women. This would include re-visiting the five women-friendly Bills thrown out by the National Assembly.

*Economic empowerment of women, including wealth creation.

*Education parity and development for women.

*Agriculture and technological innovation for women.

*prevention and mitigation of political violence against women.

Photo L-R: Tosin Dokpesi (MD AIT), Dr. Biola Akiyode-Afolabi (Chair, Organising Committee), Dr. Tunde Okewale (Chairman St. Ives Communications), Toun Okewale-Sonaiya (CEO Womwn Radio & Conference Convener), Seun Olagunju (Broadcat Journalist & Member Organising Committee), Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Princess Jumai Idonije (SSA Technical to Minister for Women Affairs)

The Chair of the Conference was Hajia Saudatu Mahdi (Secretary General, Women's Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative - WRAPA). Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative Nigeria/ECOWAS made some remarks. First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari was represented.

It was indeed a successful outing for a critical mass of Nigerian women. They heard encouraging speeches from the six Presidential candidates. I join Dame Paulen Tallen to say that Nigerian women implore whoever wins the Presidential election in 2023 to walk the talk. Congrats to Toun for hosting the successful conference. I look forwaed to VoW 2023... 
 
 

 

AFRICA POLLING INSTITUTE (API) & THE SOCIAL COHESION SURVEY

The 2022 Nigeria Social Cohesion Survey Report was launched in Abuja by the Africa Polling Institute (API) on the 6th of October, 2022. I was a stakeholder at the event. The launching of the report was preceded by a Keynote speech titled: 'Bridging the fault-lines in the quest for social cohesion', ably delivered by Prof. Kingsley Moghalu. This was followed by a robust panel discussion on the subject matter of social cohesion.

Some of the participants are:

*Prof. Kingsley Moghalu - Keynote Speaker/Founder & President, Institute of Governance & Economic Transformation (IGET)/Former Presidential Candidate/Former Deputy Governor, CNN

*Prof. Bell Ihua - ED, API/Professor of Practice in Opinion Research, Coal City University, Enugu

*Dr. Olugbenga Ogunmefun - Director of Research & Institutional Strengthening, API

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Independent Conflict Transformation Strategist/Gender Specialist & Former Director, Institute for Peace & Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja

*Hajia Saudatu Mahdi, MFR - Secretary-General, Women's Rights Advancement & Protection Alternative (WRAPA)

*Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan - Head, Media Relations, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC)

*Mrs. Aisha Yesufu - President, Citizens Hub

*Ms. Yemi Adamolekun - ED Enough is Enough (EiE)

*Soji Adeniyi - Board Member, API

*Prof. Hauwa Yusuf - Researcher, API/Sociologist & Director, Centre for Gender Studies, Kaduna State University   

                                                      Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the event

In my intervention, I reiterated the fact that gender equity should be a prelude to desired gender equality in Nigeria. Therefore, affirmative action is a prerequisite for gender equity in a patriarchal society like Nigeria. I also congratulated API for being the viable answer to US based 'fact-tanks' like the 'Pew Research Centre' (PRC). PRC describes itself as a 'non-partisan fact-tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. PRC conducts research, media content analysis and other empirical social research,...' (PRC's website). It's heart-warming that API's vision is 'to become a leading opinion research think-tank in Africa, championing good governance by promoting access to credible data to support state and non-state actors.' (Source API's website). With three published surveys so far, since 2018, the sky is just their beginning.

Pof. Moghalu identified the following as some of the pre-requisites for sustainable social cohesion: Rotational presidency, economic competence of leaders at all levels, solution to youth unemployment via public-private partnership (PPP), reform of the education sector in order to retain 'brain capital' and make education more skill oriented, health sector reform, etc.

The panel discussion was a bit of an inter-generational dialogue, where the younger elements were advised to channel their youthful energy 'positively' in order to produce 'tangible results'. Activism should be managed for positive outcomes. The citizens should always hold their leaders accountable in order to keep them on their toes. There should be a bottom-up approach to governance. The dignity of the human person needs to be preserved via various government interventions...

There were 13 parameters employed for the assessment of social cohesion by the researchers: Identity, Trust, Social justice, Participation & patriotism, Natural resource governance, Gender equity, Impunity, Corruption, Peace-building, Polarisation, Coping strategies (resilience), Self worth & Future expectations...The social cohesion index for 2022 is 39.6%, which remains below the average SC index of 50%. This implies a weakening state of social cohesion in Nigeria, occasioned by the deepening fault-lines and increasing polarisation along ethnic, religious, economic and political lines. A number of recommendations were made to make things right in the country (See pp. 22-24 of the #NSCS2022 Report - Executive Summary).

A high point of the event was the investiture of Prof. Bell Ihua, ED API, as an Ambassador of the National Population Commission (NPC). Kudos to the API team for this report. I look forward to an update next year...