NYSC PROJECT:RESCUING FUTURE LEADERS PT2

Glad to continue with you on this article again this week and seeing you all appreciate the first post of Rescuing Future Leaders Pt1 is a whole encouragement(If you're yet to see it, please you can check my blog post). Thank you 🤗.
So recapping and proceeding with my post, I marveled at how these children were able to survive all these environmental challenges for their upbringing and schooling but like I said, they have no choice as long as they are children in the custody of a financially less privileged parent who found themselves in an unwanted situation as well.

The whole project about the school feeding program ended as I successfully enrolled and updated the pupils data to the government's database, reported to my LGI (Local government Inspector) whom had also been of a moral support in pushing through with the project, and I was back to my PPA (Primary Place of Assignment).

After a while, the election was gonna come up and officials were needed to join in conducting the election most especially corp members and civil servants of a certain level.
We had trainings on the processes of conducting a free-fair election, how to handle the polling unit, the officials and their roles (which made me realized I was gonna be the leader for my team at my polling unit as a Presiding Officer), electoral materials and how to use them, the voters arrangements etc. We were told on how to make use of SOS app in case of any trouble as they mentioned various cases of dangers to face as electoral officials when violence arises at polling units during or after election.

At first, being the fact that I'm not the running type, I have less speed when it comes to running if in case something comes up and the belief of some citizens is that there's a probability that fight may occur at polling units and I thought about quiting but then I had another thought Abt it. If I run away from it, another person runs away from it, who then will secure the future for the generation I claim to be in and coming generations? The so called Future Leaders including me may end up in the wrong hands if the right hands refuse to do the right thing. So I decided to continue with it and put my life and teams in God's hands.

The day before the D-Day for the election, we had to assemble at the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission)Secretariat which is a body that is in charge of any electoral activities in Nigeria.

We were all given our designated places for the election and the teams got their electoral items before being discharged to our different locations in different vehicles.

We couldn't arrive there until late in the midnight and we just had to freshen up and rest a bit to prepare for the election along with all other electoral officials.
I was posted to a very remote area for my electoral assignment as the Presiding Officer (PO) and two APO Assistant Presiding Officer 1 and 2).

Before the arrival of the citizens, We got to the polling unit and started the arrangement for the stages of voting right from the place where they have to queue, to the spot where they have to check their pictures if they fall into the actual place they came for voting, to another spot for checking their names from the list with APO 1 and confirming for verification and then over to the APO 2 for highlighting their thumbs as a symbol of coming to vote and then get to collect the ballot paper before proceeding to the voting point to cast their votes and by 4pm, the ballot papers will be counted in the presence of everyone.

On arrival of the voters, they were gathered and I addressed them trying to get their attention and cooperation on having a fair and non-violent election. Also on the arrangement before they get to the actual voting point and after which none of the party members were allowed to communicate one-on-one with the voters before casting their votes. So I think this actually made everyone calm and relaxed that they have a safe polling unit to cast their votes and on seeing how peaceful everything was going, I was at peace that my polling unit was peaceful and well conducted.

The officer in charge applauded me and the team in general for taking charge of my unit with so much wisdom with less or no intervention even as they were present and then we had some pictures together for memories sake.

When it was 4pm, the whole party members were gathered including some voters who waited to witness the votes and the counting themselves. We counted the ballot papers for each party as being voted by the citizens and announced the party with the highest votes for my polling unit. After which we recorded everything on the electoral materials including gadgets and also left a piece at the polling unit for any other people to check after our departure.

This was how the whole election ended on a peaceful note and my team went back for submission to the Supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) as the end of our service to the Nation and the citizens.

With all these, my one year compulsory national youth service was not just the normal service but got me giving my best in efforts, time, brainstorming solutions in giving back to the nation. Right from ensuring that children/pupils gets access to the free school feeding program which strengthens and elongate their willingness to be in school, creating awareness for citizens to going out at the time of election to vote for whom they think is right and not because they are paid to do so AND participating in ensuring a free fair election for the nation.
☝️☝️☝️These made my one year NYSC service WORTHWHILE and I had my Passing Out Parade (POP) which is the last stage of the National Youth Service Corp Program.

Thanks for reading through to the last line 🤗 and at this end I'll like to drop my 🖊️.

All Pictures are MINE
#Afriken