UBEC Tasks PR Officers on Innovation, Strategic Communication in Promoting Basic Education

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged public relations and information officers across the country to embrace innovation, professionalism and strategic communication in promoting government interventions in the basic education sector.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, gave the charge on Monday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, at the commission’s 12th Annual Training Workshop for public relations and information officers of UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Garba, whose address was delivered by the Director, North Central Zone, Mr Edward Ababalaka, said effective communication remained critical to educational development and public appreciation of government investments in the sector.

She noted that despite progress in school infrastructure, teacher professional development, provision of instructional materials and digital learning initiatives, the impact of such interventions could only be fully appreciated if adequately communicated to stakeholders.

According to her, public relations officers have a responsibility to translate educational policies and programmes into compelling stories of impact, build public confidence and mobilise communities to support basic education delivery.

She urged the officers to move beyond routine publicity and embrace innovative approaches to documenting and showcasing success stories from schools and communities, particularly in view of the growing influence of digital media and the challenges of misinformation.

Garba said the workshop was designed to strengthen participants’ capacity in advocacy, media relations, stakeholder engagement, content development, digital communication, reputation management and strategic information dissemination.

She also called on SUBEB chairmen to adequately support their public relations departments, describing the officers as critical image-makers responsible for projecting the achievements of their respective boards.

In her welcome address, the Acting Head of Corporate Communications at UBEC, Mrs Kemi Abass, said public relations responsibilities went beyond issuing press releases, covering events and posting activities on social media.

She urged the officers to adopt impact-driven communication strategies, including short documentaries, human-interest stories, infographics, interviews and beneficiary testimonials, to demonstrate how government interventions were improving teaching and learning.

Abass disclosed that UBEC was considering the establishment of a regular publicity bulletin, production of a documentary showcasing success stories across UBEC and SUBEBs, as well as a coordinated national digital campaign to increase public awareness of basic education interventions.

She also called for stronger collaboration between the communication units of UBEC and SUBEBs to promote timely information sharing, coordinated messaging and consistent publicity of achievements across the country.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, emphasised the importance of effective and timely communication in showcasing the Federal Government’s achievements in the basic education sector.

Attah acknowledged progress in school infrastructure development but warned that inadequate communication could allow isolated cases of poor facilities to overshadow improvements recorded across the country.

He urged public relations officers to consistently inform Nigerians about government projects and their impact, while commending UBEC’s corporate communications initiatives, including its publicity materials, frequently asked questions and public awareness activities.

Earlier, the Dean of UBEC/SUBEB Public Relations Officers, Mr Richard Nanpon Jonah, called for dedicated budgetary allocations for public relations activities across SUBEBs.

Jonah said adequate funding would enable communication officers to effectively showcase interventions and demonstrate the impact of investments in basic education.

The workshop was declared open by the Chairman of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr Kassim Mohamed.