UBEC Urges PR Officers To Embrace Innovation In Promoting Education Reforms

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged public relations officers across the country to adopt innovative communication strategies to improve public awareness of government interventions in the basic education sector.

The commission said effective communication was essential to showcasing achievements in school infrastructure, teacher development, instructional materials and digital learning initiatives.

UBEC Executive Secretary, 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 from UBEC and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Garba, whose address was delivered by the Director, North Central Zone, Edward Ababalaka, described strategic communication as a critical pillar of educational development.

She said public relations officers had a responsibility to translate government policies and interventions into compelling stories that demonstrate their impact on schools, teachers, pupils and communities.

According to her, the success of government investments in basic education depends not only on the delivery of projects but also on how effectively such achievements are communicated to the public.

She urged the officers to move beyond routine publicity and become proactive in documenting success stories, particularly as digital media continues to reshape public communication and misinformation becomes an increasing challenge.

Garba said the workshop was designed to strengthen their skills in media relations, advocacy, 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 important image-makers whose work helps build public confidence in education interventions.

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

She urged participants to adopt more engaging communication formats, including short documentaries, human-interest stories, infographics, interviews and beneficiary testimonials.

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

She said stronger collaboration between communication units at the federal and state levels would also promote timely information sharing and consistent messaging.

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

Attah, who reaffirmed the commitment of Education Minister, Dr Olatunji Alausa, to transforming the sector, said isolated cases of inadequate school facilities should not overshadow broader improvements in infrastructure development.

He urged public relations officers to ensure that ongoing government projects and their impact were adequately communicated to Nigerians.

Earlier, the Dean of UBEC/SUBEB Public Relations Officers, Richard Nanpon Jonah, called for dedicated budgetary allocations for public relations activities across state universal basic education boards.

He said sustained investment in communication, transparency and stakeholder engagement would help demonstrate the impact of government spending on basic education.

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