The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has urged public relations and information officers across the country to embrace innovation, professionalism and strategic communication to effectively showcase government interventions in the basic education sector.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, gave the charge 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) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The workshop brought together communication officers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Garba, whose address was delivered by the Director, North Central Zone, Mr Edward Ababalaka, described effective communication as a critical component of educational development, stressing that government investments in basic education must be properly communicated to secure public understanding and support.
She noted that although significant progress had been recorded in school infrastructure, teacher professional development, instructional materials and digital learning initiatives, the impact of such interventions could be better appreciated through effective communication.
According to her, public relations officers play a vital role in translating government policies and programmes into compelling stories that build public confidence and encourage community participation in basic education delivery.
She urged the participants to adopt proactive and innovative communication strategies, particularly in response to the growing influence of digital media and the spread of misinformation.
Garba explained that the training was designed to strengthen their capacity in advocacy, media relations, stakeholder engagement, content development, digital communication, reputation management and strategic information dissemination.
She challenged the officers to move beyond routine publicity by documenting and promoting success stories from schools and communities, noting that every classroom constructed, teacher trained and learning resource provided represented an achievement worthy of public attention.
The UBEC Executive Secretary also appealed to SUBEB chairmen to adequately support and empower their public relations departments, describing the officers as key ambassadors 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 the responsibilities of public relations officers extended beyond issuing press releases, covering official events and posting activities on social media.
She urged them to embrace proactive, strategic and impact-driven communication that demonstrates how government interventions are improving teaching and learning outcomes.
Abass encouraged the participants to deploy modern communication tools, including short documentaries, human-interest stories, infographics, interviews and beneficiary testimonials, to make their messages more engaging and effective.
She also called for stronger collaboration between UBEC and SUBEB communication units to promote timely information sharing, coordinated messaging and consistent reporting of achievements across the country.
She 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 increase public awareness of basic education interventions.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Education on Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, emphasised 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 Olatunji Alausa, to transforming the sector, noting that progress in school infrastructure development and other interventions must be consistently communicated to the public.
He cautioned that isolated cases of inadequate school facilities should not be allowed to overshadow improvements recorded across the country, urging public relations officers to provide balanced and regular updates on government projects and their impact.
He also commended UBEC’s corporate communications initiatives, particularly its publicity materials, frequently asked questions and public awareness activities, and encouraged the commission to extend similar efforts 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 said adequate funding would enable communication officers to effectively document and publicise the impact of government interventions in their respective states.
He maintained that investments in basic education would achieve greater public value through effective communication, transparency and sustained stakeholder engagement.
The workshop is expected to strengthen the communication capacity of UBEC and SUBEB personnel, enhance collaboration among their public relations units and improve public awareness of government efforts to expand access to quality basic education across Nigeria.
