..Kwara Commissioner speaks at close of five-day training on documentary production for media and public officers

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Kwara State Commissioner for Communications, Hon. Bola Olukoju, has called on public officials and media professionals to prioritise the documentation of government activities to promote transparency, credibility, and proper record-keeping for future reference.

Olukoju made the call in Ilorin on Thursday at the closing ceremony of a five-day training on documentary production, organised by the Kwara Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kwara L-PRES) in partnership with FOUR ICONS Premium Limited.

Kwara L-PRES is a World Bank-assisted project under the State Ministry of Livestock Development aimed at improving livestock production and resilience across the state.

Participants at the training included media professionals from different organisations and public offices, including the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Olayinka Fafoluyi Solace; Senior Special Assistant on Communication, Ibrahim Abdullateef; and Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola.

Speaking to reporters, Olukoju said the training was timely and relevant, particularly in helping participants sharpen their storytelling skills and improve how they document and communicate government programmes.

“Training in documentary production is the way to go because the power of documentation cannot be rivaled. The art of storytelling is how we get our story out. We don’t want governance to be something people think is just cooked up — we want it to have a human angle,” she said.

She highlighted key lessons from the training, including the use of pictures and progress reports to tell compelling stories, and how artificial intelligence can help amplify creativity. “AI won’t take away your job. It enhances what you already know. As a creative tool, it’s something you must learn to work with,” she added.

Olukoju, who also took part in the training, thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the initiative and for his vision on digital inclusion in governance.

Also speaking at the event, Kwara State L-PRES Coordinator Olusoji Oyawoye said the project has trained over 2,000 stakeholders so far, including livestock farmers, butchers, abattoir workers, and agricultural extension agents.

Topics covered in past trainings, he said, include ruminant and crop residue usage, bull fattening, fodder production, meat handling protocols, occupational health and safety, and climate-smart agriculture.

Oyawoye commended Governor AbdulRazaq for providing the support needed to achieve success in implementing the L-PRES project. He also encouraged media professionals to continue reporting on the project’s work to keep the public informed and engaged.

Aishat Onusi, a resource person from FOUR ICONS Premium Limited, said proper documentation is critical to the success of any development project.

“In development work, documentation is not just about keeping records. It is a proof of work done, evidence of impact, and the basis for learning and accountability,” she said. “Without it, efforts risk being forgotten or duplicated.”