By Chibuzor Emejor / Correspondent, Abuja
The launch of the 2015 BetterMe app by MTN Nigeria has been described as innovative and a milestone in voter education and engagement towards enhancing and deepening Nigeria’s electoral process.
The app, which is available to over 60 million MTN subscribers, has a vast and robust content offering including segments on the 2015 elections, among others.
The new app enables subscribers to seamlessly access information relating to the elections, from the comfort of their mobile phones.
A subscriber can access information on candidates for the elections, their plans and manifestoes as well as the strategic thrust and policy direction of the various political parties, among others from the convenience of the mobile phone.
At the launch of the 2015 BetterMe app in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who unveiled the BetterMe app to the media, stated that the app is a major platform for voter engagement and a big step forward in Nigeria’s quest for participatory democracy.
Jega represented by the Director, Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi, said “When the idea was mooted, we were quite excited because of the positive benefits that the app has in engaging the voter and enhancing their participation in the electoral process.”
Jega said that INEC went into partnership with MTN because of the reach of its network.
“We commend MTN and NE02 (developer of the app) because without being prompted, they have developed the app to help enhance access to information and voter education.
“For elections to be credible, voters must participate in the electoral process in an informed manner; without information, voters cannot participate in the electoral process in an informed manner.”
Continuing on the benefits of the BetterMe app, he said that the app has unusual application for security agencies, election observers, among other stakeholders in the electoral process.
“The ease of using the app for voter education is quite commendable. We hope the scope of the partnership can be expanded in other areas and that other organisations will take a cue from this initiative in their CSR initiatives,” he said.
Source : Independent
