YEGO engagement visit to the DG DSS: technical support to train 50,000 guards

Nigeria Youth Policy Development Advocacy has recorded another major milestone following a high-level strategic engagement with the Department of State Services (DSS), aimed at strengthening collaboration for peaceful, credible and violence-free elections in Nigeria.

The delegation, led by Blessing Oyefeso, was received by the Director of Internal Security on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, who was unavoidably absent. The meeting was also attended by two other Directors and senior personnel of the Service, reflecting the importance attached to the proposed collaboration.

During the engagement, the DSS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the implementation of the Youth Electoral Guards Observers (YEGO) initiative. The Service assured the delegation of its readiness to provide technical assistance, including experienced resource persons for the training and capacity building of Youth Electoral Guards Observers. It also confirmed that its offices across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as its Local Government offices nationwide, would be available to engage with grassroots YEGO members by providing guidance, technical support and institutional collaboration throughout the implementation of the initiative.

The DSS further encouraged the establishment of a structured information-sharing mechanism that would enable YEGO members to provide timely intelligence capable of preventing election violence and other threats to peaceful democratic processes. The Service emphasised that all information shared must be credible, verified and supported by effective internal mechanisms to ensure accuracy, professionalism and responsible reporting.

Presenting the proposed Strategic Collaboration Memorandum during the meeting, Mr. Blessing reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to operating within Nigeria's electoral security framework and supporting institutions responsible for safeguarding democratic processes.

He noted that the YEGO initiative will directly onboard, train and deploy 50,000 Electoral Guards across Nigeria, while leveraging a broader network to engage more than 300,000 young Nigerians in democratic accountability, voter education, election observation, peacebuilding, civic participation and community-based early warning initiatives ahead of the 2027 General Elections.