The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has urged public relations officers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take stronger roles in communicating government reforms in the basic education sector.
She made the call on Monday in Abuja during the opening of a two-day training workshop for heads of public relations of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs), themed “Strengthening Strategic Communication for Effective Basic Education Delivery.”
Garba described the participants as “gatekeepers of information and shapers of narratives,” noting that effective communication is critical to achieving the goals of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education.
“The most brilliant policies and the most dedicated efforts can fail to achieve their full potential if they are not effectively communicated,” she said. “Your work breathes life into our policies. You are the storytellers who will convey the hope and the tangible benefits of the ongoing reforms to every corner of your states.”
She explained that UBEC is pursuing reforms aimed at reducing out-of-school children, enhancing teacher training, and promoting skills acquisition to prepare Nigerian children for the future. According to her, the success of these initiatives depends largely on how well they are communicated and embraced by the public.
The Executive Secretary described the role of PR officers as a “national calling,” urging them to be proactive, innovative, and persuasive in shaping public perception and building trust among stakeholders.
“This training is not about business as usual. It is about sharpening our tools, rethinking our strategies, and embracing new and innovative ways to engage with the public. We cannot afford to be reactive. We must be proactive, passionate, and persuasive champions for basic education,” she stated.
Garba concluded by encouraging participants to use the training to recommit themselves to national renewal in education, stressing that “the time for incremental change is over; the time for transformative impact is now.”
The training, scheduled for September 15–16, is designed to enhance the capacity of state education communicators in promoting UBEC’s policies and ensuring wider acceptance of ongoing reforms.
