Participants of the recently concluded “Discover the Power of Storytelling” training organised by Isu Media Limited have described the three-day learning experience as insightful, eye-opening, and transformative.
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The workshop, held from October 8th to 10th, 2025, at Novare Mall, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, focused on introducing development practitioners to the Most Significant Change (MSC) method, an innovative storytelling approach that captures human experiences and meaningful transformations that data alone cannot reveal.
The training, facilitated by Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, CEO of ISU Media Limited and Akweya TV Limited, and a renowned development communication expert with over 20 years of professional experience, explored the connection between storytelling, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and project impact.
Through interactive sessions, participants learned how to collect, analyse, and communicate change stories effectively to support learning and accountability within development programmes.
“Behind every statistic is a human experience,” Mr. Okenyodo reminded participants. “The MSC method helps us uncover what truly matters to people, not just what can be counted.”
A major highlight of the training was a field trip to Gwarinpa Village along 3rd Avenue, where participants visited a roadside area that has become an informal dumpsite despite several community efforts to stop indiscriminate refuse dumping. During the visit, they engaged with residents and small business owners to identify real-life stories that link environment, livelihood, and community responsibility.
“I have learned that the MSC method is not just a storytelling tool but a technique of monitoring and evaluation. It allows us to measure change and impact even before a project concludes. This makes it a very practical and meaningful approach to learning and documentation.” – Tracy, CentreLSD
One such story was that of a young girl selling fried snacks near a clogged water channel. Her account revealed how a community cleanup exercise transformed her business environment, improving hygiene, increasing customer visits, and renewing her sense of hope. She also expressed willingness to participate in future cleanups, demonstrating how awareness can spark ownership and behaviour change even among low-income earners.
Reflecting on her experience, Aisha Abubakar from the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Partners West Africa Nigeria – PWAN) said:
“This training has exposed me to something entirely new, the Most Significant Change method. It’s crucial for every programme, M&E, and communications personnel because it’s one thing to implement a project and another to truly understand its outcomes and long-term impact. It’s been an enlightening session, and I look forward to learning more.”
Another participant, Eseoghene Tracy Irhezen from the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), shared similar sentiments:
“I have learned that the MSC method is not just a storytelling tool but a technique of monitoring and evaluation. It allows us to measure change and impact even before a project concludes. This makes it a very practical and meaningful approach to learning and documentation.”
Throughout the training, participants engaged in storytelling exercises, group analyses, and reflective sessions that helped them link personal experiences to broader development themes. Many described the training as a timely intervention that has improved their ability to communicate results, measure change, and amplify the voices of beneficiaries.
The workshop ended with a certificate presentation ceremony, marking the participants as the first cohort of ISU Media’s “Power of Storytelling” training series.
For more information about upcoming storytelling and communication trainings, visit isumedia.net.ng or contact +234 907 416 6345 or 2isumedia@gmail.com.
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