Nigerian Officials Visit Smith County to Learn about Voting Process

TYLER — Two election officials from Nigeria visited the Smith County Elections Office Wednesday to learn about the local voting process. Emeka Golden Owabie, assistant chief legal officer for the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, said he learned that much of the voting process in Texas is done electronically, making it easier. According to a county news release, Smith County Elections Administrator Karen Nelson explained every step of voting. Owabie and Alhaji Mohammad Umar Bashar, assistant director of Human Resources Management for the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria, explained their election process. Mrs. Nelson said she and her staff learned a lot about Nigeria’s culture and election techniques.

The Nigerian officials were brought to Smith County by Michael Umeadi, professor of business and Global Initiative director for Jarvis Christian College. He said the men are here on a five-day trip, and he brought them to Smith County so they could see the elections process instead of solely learning about it in a classroom. Umeadi said the men’s trip to Texas is part of the vision of Jarvis President Lester Newman to bring the college into a global setting.