MyWeku

Myweku.com had the pleasure of speaking with Bayo Lambo about his new site, NigeriaVotes2011. It’s a website and platform where potential voters and the curious alike can visit to view, research and indeed review all the candidates running for office in the 2011 elections. The site aims to inform and educate viewers on the backgrounds and policies of all candidates.

Bayo says; “It’s the perfect platform for the viewer to compare and contrast candidates in whatever position in whichever state that interests them. It aims to give an objective and neutral view point on all candidates and parties where no party has any advantage over the other; the vantage point lies solely with the viewer. The website also provides election news updates, a history of Nigerian politics and an interactive forum where voters and candidates can come together to share ideas and opinions”.

His passion and excitement about the importance and potential of this site is infectious. According to another like minded site whataboutusnigeria.org, “70% of Nigerians are under 30 (2006 census). It is estimated that over half of those who registered for the upcoming elections are between 18 and 35.”

The growth spurt in sites like these launching just go to enforce the view that Nigerian youth empowerment is on the up and up and they are using the perfect medium; the internet, to showcase this interest and passion for politics and the governance of their beloved country. Bayo stated “It is particularly important for those Nigerians who live in the Diaspora as they don’t get to see and feel the buzz “on ground”

Wael Ghonim the internet activist became an international figure and energized pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt after his emotional interview following 11 days of incarceration by Egyptian police for investigations regarding him being the admin of a Facebook page, “we are all Khaled Saeed”, one of the main drivers that inspired the revolution… Need I say more, we are all familiar with how successful that campaign was.

Nigeriavotes2011.com may not spark a revolution, but what Bayo and his team have armed today’s youth with, is a tool to raise their voices and share their thoughts on a world stage. This tool is in part what makes this generation so incredibly powerful.

The great Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe once said ‘Nigeria is what it is because the leaders are not what they should be’. Well, If I can be so bold; I think Nigeria is about to be what it CAN be, because the younger generation are becoming what they should be.

You can also follow Nigeriavotes2011 on Twitter @NGRvotes2011

By Ada Iwugo