The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has called on public relations leaders across Nigeria to take the frontline in driving education reforms.
The commission stressed that effective communication is central to delivering the goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education.
At the opening of a two-day training for Heads of Public Relations from the 36 states and the FCT in Abuja yesterday, the executive secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, said the commission was determined to transform basic education but warned that policies and programmes risk failure without strategic communication.
The workshop was organised under the theme “Strengthening Strategic Communication for Effective Basic Education Delivery.”
Garba noted that UBEC has rolled out a series of programmes aimed at revitalising the sub-sector including tackling the challenge of out-of-school children, strengthening teacher training and development, and expanding skills acquisition for the younger generation.
She emphasised that while reforms are underway, the responsibility of translating them into public trust and national impact rests largely on effective messaging.
“Your work breathes life into our policies. You are the storytellers who will convey the hope and tangible benefits of ongoing reforms to every corner of your states. You are the bridge-builders who will foster trust among parents, teachers, community leaders, and policymakers,” she said.
The UBEC boss further described the role of public relations officers as a “national calling,” urging them to be proactive, passionate, and persuasive in championing education renewal.
“The time for incremental change is over. The time for transformative impact is now. This training is not about business as usual but about sharpening our tools, rethinking strategies, and embracing innovative ways to engage with the public,” she added.
Garba charged the PR heads to see themselves as central actors in the national push to build a resilient, inclusive, and equitable basic education system that leaves no child behind.
