June 12: 5 Simple Ways to Celebrate Democracy Day in Your Community

June 12 is now Nigeria’s Democracy Day. In 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari signed a proclamation shifting the annual celebration from May 29 to June 12 to honour the “freeest, fairest and most peaceful” presidential election of June 12, 1993. 

Since 2019, every June 12 has been observed as the national Democracy Day holiday, and indeed, the Federal Government has declared Thursday, June 12, 2025, a public holiday to mark this year’s celebration 

Here are 5 ways to celebrate democracy in your community:

Turn Your Street Corner into an Open-Air Stage

Pick a busy spot in your neighbourhood, like a junction or a small park. Borrow a speaker and microphone from a local choir or community centre, and plug them into a power bank.

Invite poets, singers, or even kids to share two-minute pieces about freedom. Ask them to sign up via a simple WhatsApp message. Before the day, design a bright flyer on Canva with your area’s name and share it in your community WhatsApp and Facebook groups.

On June 12, start by saying a few words on why the day matters, then let everyone take turns speaking in Pidgin, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, or English.

Clean Your Street to Show Civic Pride

Choose a one-kilometre stretch, maybe from your road’s entrance to the nearest corner market. Ask neighbours to lend gloves, old brooms, and empty bags.

Contact your local waste office, such as LAWMA in Lagos or any agency around your state, to bring extra bags and pick up the trash. Divide people into small teams: one group gathers plastic, another picks paper, and someone takes photos.

When you finish, gather everyone to talk quickly about how cleaning our streets is like caring for our democracy. Share before-and-after photos on Instagram with the tag #DemocracyDayNG to inspire others.

Show Historic June 12 Clips at an open field  or Online

Set up a simple outdoor movie night on a neighbourhood field by borrowing a projector (and a white sheet or plain wall) plus speakers from a local school, church or community centre.

Download three to five ten-minute clips on the June 12, 1993, election from YouTube and test your laptop and sound ahead of time. Invite neighbours by WhatsApp to bring mats or chairs and meet you at sundown.

Begin with a few words on why June 12 matters, play each clip, pause for a quick question or two, then wrap up by asking everyone how they’ll honour democracy today.

Organise a One-Day Voter Registration Drive

Nigeria’s next generation holds our future. Work with groups like YIAGA Africa, CISLAC, or Youth Alive Foundation. Set up a small table at places where many young people pass by,university gates ,busy markets, or bus parks, from nine in the morning until two in the afternoon.

Trained volunteers help visitors fill in INEC’s online Form CVR. Use colourful posters printed on A3 paper (costs less than ₦500) to show each step. Give each new registrant a small gift, like a pen with “June 12 Democracy Day” on it or a bottle of water from a local sponsor.

Afterwards, post stories and photos on Facebook and LinkedIn so other communities see how easy it was.

Organise a Football Match in Your Community

Pick a nearby pitch, like your community centre’s field or school ground, and set a date around June 12. Rally two teams by asking neighbours via WhatsApp or local youth clubs, then borrow or bring basic gear: goals (even marked by cones), a match ball and a whistle.

Agree on simple rules and match length (say two 25-minute halves), and invite families to cheer with snacks they can bring.

Before kickoff, take a moment to say a few words about Democracy Day, then play the game and conclude with high-fives and a quick group photo to share online with #DemocracyDayNG, celebrating teamwork and civic pride.