State Secretariat
P.M.B. 1453
Ilorin

The information sector suffered the most profound neglect and in the hand of previous Administration the state. The major preoccupation of this Administration is that of reversing the prolonged neglect of this sector and bringing about a new, effective and people-centered-Information order for the State. 
Quite a number of programmes and strategies were mapped out for the actualization of this objective.

Attitudinal Reorientation and Feed back Programmes

The existing information machinery is being used for attitudinal reorientation of the people to enable them capture the essence of governance, tor public enlightenment and for obtaining feedback vital for programmes and development of Kwara State, State owned electronic and print media were effectively used for the reorientation programmes.

Campaigns were mounted on the radio and the television through television jingles features, current affairs programmes on clean environment (Eje ka gbale gbata). Back- To-Land (Agbeloba), primary healthcare delivery promotion work ethics, security consciousness and a host of others. The state-owned media houses are now used for promotion of virtues which ennoble people instead of the self-centered, personalized jingles which hitherto dominated the air waves. The new reorientation has no doubt brought about changes in attitudes and perceptions of the people.

Public Information and Enlightenment Priority

Attention is being given to effective public enlightenment by the Administration through the regular production of press releases and publicity of government actions in all sectors of the economy, interactive sessions were held with Kwarans within the country with particular reference to Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja and Kaduna and in the Diaspora with special forum on how to join hands together to rapidly develop the state. Interactive sessions were also held with the electorate within the state in form of people's forum.

These interactive sessions, which were held at Ajase in Irepodun LGA, Baboko in Ilorin West and Bode Sa'adu in Moro LGA of the state, afforded the citizens the opportlu1ity of having close interaction with the Chief Executive of the state and to clarify a number of issues bothering their minds. At the end, the people were better informed and enlightened about Government actions and activities, making it possible for Government to easily enlist the people's support and participation in the development
Process. Another advantage derived from the interactive sessions was that the state Government was able to obtain feedback from the people and make periodic reappraisal of its programmes in order to satisfy the yearnings and aspiration of the governed. 

Information Department

Concerned about the dilapidating structures of Information Department, His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, DR. Bukola Saraki, approved the rehabilitation and equipping of information and Graphic Arts Department early in year 2008.

Government Printing Press

The Government Printing Press, which is supposed to do all government Printing Press, which is supposed to do all government printing jobs, suffered the most profound neglect in recent times. As a way of encouraging its patronage, the State Government has directed the printing of all classified jobs be done at the Government Printing Press for the state and Local Governments. In order to enable it cope with the challenges in today's printing technology, plans have reached advanced stage for the comprehensive rehabilitation of its Printing equipment. The provision of modem printing 'equipment for the Government Printing Press has been approved for implementation so that the Printing Press can meet up with the challenges of modem printing technology and also compete with its counterparts in the private sector.

Assistance to N. T .A. Patigi

This Administration attached great importance to both state-owned and Federal Government-owned media organizations in the state. They are regarded as vessels for mobilizing and enlightening the populace towards effective participation in the development of the State. As partners in progress, the state Government collaborated with the Federal Government in facilitating the take-off of the newly completed N. T .A. Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of the state. In this regard, it provided four split unit air conditioners for its studios; a 60KV A generating set to serve as backup; 250KV A electricity step-down transformer and a vehicle for the use of the General Manager to ease mobility.

Assistance to Harmony FM FRCN Idofian

The state Government has donated furniture items, split AICs and transformer to the FRCN Idofian for its early take off and effective coverage of the State.
 
Cordial Relationship with the Press

The government/press relationship in the last five years the Administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki has been able to evolve a strong cordial relationship with the media. As a result of the improved relationship, developmental news and features on the state are now used in the print media more than ever before. Stories on the state come up far more regularly on Network of NT A, AIT, Channels TV and FRCN, which was hitherto the case. The cordiality with the press has also enabled this Administration to use the media to unveil the investment potentials of Kwara State.

There were also periodic interactive sessions with media executives during which Government has the opportunity of showcasing the dividend of democracy in the state and exposing the Administration's people-oriented programmes to the outside world. These media relations tours and occasional interactive sessions with media Executives also served as an opportunity for Government to open itself up for media examination, the monthly Ministerial Press Briefing by Ministry/Department has been resuscitated. All these measures made the press to better appreciate the work and genuine intention of this Government in bringing about rapid socio-economic development in the state and stemming the tide of negative and destructive reports about the state in the print electronic media.

Information Policy Environment

Various policies have been evolved by the Administration in the bid to further enhance public information dissemination. In this regard, the state-owned media were reorganized by putting people of the right aptitude in key management positions. Policies on effective use of Press Secretaries were worked out and put to use.

Welfare

The welfare of the handlers of information mechanism also experienced a boost. For example, the sum of N 12million was released to clear the backlog of over four (4) months’ salary arrears of the staff of Radio Kwara.

INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING

Radio Kwara:

The deplorable state of the broadcasting facilities and structure of media houses have been a matter of concern for the Administration of Bukola Saraki since its inception. In a bid to bring about a new lease of life at Radio Kwara, His Excellency, Dr, Bukola Saraki, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, has approved.

i. The completion and equipment of the four studios of Radio Kwara including the provision of state of-the arts digital studio and communication equipment which had been abandoned since 1989.
ii. Refurbishment of two neglected FM 35KW Transmitters at Apata Yakuba
iii. Supply and installation of50KW Medium Wave Transmitter to serve as backup to the existing one and to facilitate effective coverage of the fringe areas of the state.
iv. Supply and installation of two new 250KV A Perking generating sets for Broadcasting House and one each for the Apata Yakuba and Budo Efo transmission Stations. The rehabilitation of the existing one at the Apata Yakuba station has also been approved
v.  Supply and installation of 500KV A step down transformer for Radio Broadcasting House, GRA, Ilorin.

Radio Kwara has been able to broadcast on two Channels simultaneously, i.e. the FM Stereo Channel, which would be essentially commercial and cherished by advertisers and manufacturers, and the Medium Wave channel for the first time since the creation of Kwara State in 1967, With the FM Channel, Radio Kwara would be able to tread on the path of self-sustenance thus relieving government of the burden of catering for the station's day-to-day overhead costs. Furthermore, the studio productions would be significantly improved with the new digital studio facilities when compared with the use of the present museum-like studios.

The electricity problems at the three broadcasting locations Radio Kwara would also be totally eradicated when the installation recently approved generating set is completed. The low voltage electricity problems being experienced would be a thing of the past when the electricity step down transformer already ordered for is installed.

Kwara Television Service (KWTV)

The Kwara State Government has equipped the State Television Authority with state of the Art equipment to facilitate state wide coverage. A thousand (1000) feet mast has been installed in the base station and repeater stations have been established in Kaiama and Lafiaji Local Government Areas. Because of the peculiar topography of the state, arrangements are being made to acquire a 30 Kilowatt omni-directional transmitter for the base station while the Repeater stations would be adequately strengthened to obtain full state wide coverage. To ameliorate the problem of electricity failures, two 135 KV A generating sets have been procured and installed at the station.

Kwara Printing and Publishing Corporation (KPPC)

The major pre-occupation of government during the period under review was how to make the Herald newspapers regain its lost glory and rightful position in the print media industry. It was also concerned with how the Kwara State Printing and Publishing Corporation could be run as serious business outfit that would be able to source for funds for its overhead cost requirements instead of depending on the government all the time. As a result of the far-reaching decision taken, coupled with the result-oriented reorganizations, the print quality, editorial content, total print-run and analytical journalism and improved tremendously.