LIFE-ND BUILDS CAPACITY OF STATE KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT OFFICERS, COORDINATORS

By Raymond Benson(Abia KMCO)

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta,(LIFE-ND), a project initiated by Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD), has stepped up technical capacity building workshop for its Knowledge Management and Communication Officers and State Project Coordinators in the region.

Addressing the participants in the workshop, the National Project Coordinator, Engr. Sanni Abiodun advised participants to be dedicated to IFAD technicalities of the project to enhance the current updates and quality information for the visibilities of the project activities.

According to Engr. Sanni, “Ones you have the right data and information, you now bring your expertise to bear and begin the process of massaging something nice that everybody can see and report of the visibility of the project,” he noted.

Speaking on the workshop, the Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor, IFAD Programmes in Nigeria, Mrs. Vera Onyeaka‐Onyilo, said the objective of workshop was to build the capacity of the KMCOs, State Coordinators and their project staff, to improve the documentations of the project activities, its successes and quality dissemination of the project results to stakeholders and to develop Knowledge Communication Strategic Framework to enhance performance, stressing that the project visibility, is one of the critical functions of the KMCOs in all IFAD projects.

“We need to show value for money, need to demonstrate results to donors, to the government of Nigeria to justify the loan to has been from IFAD, and to actually show that the loan was used for the beneficiaries as it was meant to be used,” she said

Also on the workshop, Mrs. Onyilo said that due to the quality of topics and “listening ability” of the participants, that she was sure, the knowledge management products that would create visibility, would soon emerge from the states.

The Delta State Project Coordinator, Mr. Ashoro Collins, commended the resource persons, especially the Development Communication Specialist, Ambassador Stanley Chukwuemeka Okereafor, for the choice of topics and suave delivery, noting that “stepping up our games” at end of the day, we’ll be able to speak what’s expected in terms of knowledge products of the project.”

Also commenting on the workshop, the Bayelsa State Knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Mr. Diweri Akah who qualified the resource persons as “seasoned and well-equipped” said the workshop had enriched his “horizons of knowledge and a blessing” to all participants, especially in the areas of photography and interview techniques, promising to step down the gains to the state office. He however wished the days had been extended for more impactful lectures.

The six participating states are, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River. Others include, Delta Edo and Ondo.

The Workshop which began from October 26‐ 29, 2021 had its theme as” Communicating Results and Impact”, treated the following topics: Developing Knowledge Management and Communication Strategy, Stakeholders and their Communication Needs, Validation of LIFE-ND KMCs Strategy. Others include, Role of KMC, Communications Results, Writing News Story, Writing for the Social Media and Media Relations among others.