Commission trains UBEC, SUBEB information officers from 36 states, FCT on effective publicity of basic education interventions

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has called on public relations and information officers across the country to embrace innovation, professionalism and strategic communication in projecting government investments and achievements in the basic education sector.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, made the call on Monday at the commission’s 12th Annual Training Workshop for Public Relations and Information Officers of UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), held in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The workshop brought together communication officers from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to strengthen their capacity in promoting basic education interventions and improving public engagement.

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

Garba, whose address was delivered by the Director, North Central Zone, Mr Edward Ababalaka, described strategic communication as an essential component of educational development, stressing that government investments in basic education must be matched with effective public information and engagement.

She noted that despite significant progress in school infrastructure, teacher professional development, instructional materials and digital learning initiatives, the impact of such interventions would be better appreciated when effectively communicated to the public.

According to her, public relations officers occupy a strategic position in translating government policies and programmes into compelling stories that build public confidence, encourage stakeholder participation and strengthen community support for basic education.

She urged the participants to move beyond conventional publicity approaches and deploy innovative communication strategies, particularly in response to the growing influence of digital media and the spread of misinformation.

The UBEC Executive Secretary identified advocacy, media relations, stakeholder engagement, content development, digital communication, reputation management and strategic information dissemination as key areas the workshop was designed to strengthen.

She further encouraged the officers to document success stories from schools and communities, noting that every classroom constructed, teacher trained and instructional resource provided represented an achievement that deserved public recognition.

Garba also appealed to SUBEB chairmen to adequately support their public relations departments, describing the officers as critical image-makers responsible for communicating the achievements of their respective boards.

In her welcome address, the Acting Head of Corporate Communications at UBEC, Mrs Kemi Abass, challenged public relations officers to redefine their approach to communication by focusing on measurable impact rather than routine publicity.

Abass observed that the responsibilities of communication officers extended beyond issuing press releases, covering official events and posting updates on social media.

She advocated the use of modern communication tools, including short documentaries, human-interest stories, infographics, interviews and beneficiary testimonials, to demonstrate how government interventions were transforming teaching and learning in schools.

She also emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between UBEC and SUBEB communication units to promote timely information sharing, coordinated messaging and consistent publicity across the country.

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

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

Attah reaffirmed the commitment of the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, to transforming the country’s education system, noting that progress in school infrastructure development and other interventions must be consistently communicated to Nigerians.

He warned that isolated cases of inadequate school facilities should not be allowed to overshadow broader improvements being recorded across the country, urging public relations officers to provide accurate information on government projects and their impact.

He also commended UBEC’s corporate communications initiatives, particularly its publicity materials, frequently asked questions and public awareness campaigns, while encouraging the commission to extend similar activities to the state level.

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 argued that adequate funding would enable communication officers to effectively document and publicise government investments in basic education, while strengthening transparency, accountability and stakeholder engagement.

He maintained that the huge investments in the sector would achieve greater public visibility and impact when supported by professional communication and effective information management.

The workshop is expected to enhance the capacity of UBEC and SUBEB public relations personnel, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and improve public awareness of government efforts to expand access to quality basic education nationwide.