Of the more than 175 million people who live in Nigeria, 70 percent of them are young. And among those millions are more than 125 million mobile phone subscribers, the largest such market in Africa. So, as Nigeria turned to a crucial national election last month, a group of political activists selected a smartphone application might galvanize a few million of those citizens and guarantee a free and fair election in a nation not known for its transparency. Yemi Adamolekun is one of those who tapped that demographic with technology. Dressed in T-shirt and a trousers of Ankara fabric, Adamolekun walked briskly into Terra Kulture, a bookstore located in the high-brow area in Lagos State. Her simple clothing style and a natural hairdo underscore her no-nonsense approach to national affairs.
Adamolekun is the executive director of Enough-Is-Enough Nigeria, a non-governmental organization promoting good governance and accountability in the country. The organization is known for the role it played in mobilizing Nigeria protests for a change in government in 2009 when President Umaru Yar’adua was ill. The mass protest attracted global attention and intervention. When Yar’adua died, the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, was appointed to replace him.
From those beginnings six years ago, Enough-Is-Enough in 2011 launched Revoda, a smartphone application that allows citizens to send first-hand reports about election activities in their neighborhood. Revoda is focused on empowering Nigeria citizens.
Adamolekun thinks good politicians need to encourage the use of the organization’s app. “A candidate that wants to win free and fair should encourage citizens to use Revoda,” she said.
Full Article: Smartphones Galvanized Nigeria’s Younger Voters.