The Department of Publications at the Kwara State House of Assembly (KWHA) has received a national award for excellence in legislative reporting at the 2026 Annual Delegates’ Conference of the Association of Hansard/Verbatim Reporters of Nigeria, AHVRN.
The award was presented on the 4th day of the week-long conference, held from 6th to 12th September, 2026, at The Statement Hotel in Abuja. This year’s theme is: “Preserving Legislative History: The Role of Hansard Reporters and Modern Technology (AI).”
The conference brought together verbatim reporters, editors and publications officers from state and federal legislatures to discuss accuracy, digital archiving, and the impact of artificial intelligence on parliamentary record-keeping.
Basirat Saka, Director of Publications at the Kwara State House of Assembly, received the award on behalf of her department.
“I am deeply honored by the award presented to my Department, the Department of Publications, Kwara State House of Assembly by AHVRN,” Ms Saka said. “I sincerely appreciate the Rt. Hon. Speaker, the Clerk, and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Assembly for the opportunity given to me and to the entire Publications Department. Thanks Jazakumallahu khaira.”
AHVRN officials said the award recognises the Kwara department’s consistent, accurate and timely publication of House proceedings, and its contribution to preserving the official record of debates and resolutions.
Hansard and verbatim reporting forms the legal record of proceedings in Nigerian legislatures. With the theme focused on AI, delegates spent the week examining tools for transcription, translation, and secure digital archiving to improve transparency and public access to legislative records.
Speakers at the conference stressed that accurate Hansard reporting is now more critical as assemblies digitise operations and as citizens demand greater accountability.
The conference continues through 12th September with training sessions and policy discussions on standards, technology adoption, and the welfare of legislative reporters nationwide.
