UBEC Tasks Information Officers on Driving Reforms in Basic Education

The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has launched strategic reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s basic education sector, tackling the challenge of out-of-school children, addressing learning poverty, and improving the quality of teaching and learning in primary and junior secondary schools.

Executive Secretary of UBEC, Aisha Garba, charged public relations officers to play a key role in promoting the reforms through strategic communication. She described them as critical links between UBEC policies and the public.

Garba spoke in Abuja while inaugurating a two-day training programme for heads of public relations in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held between September 15 and 16.

She noted that UBEC had unveiled and begun implementing targeted programmes designed to revitalize basic education across the country. “The landscape of basic education has been challenging, but ongoing efforts to enroll out-of-school children, improve teacher training, and equip students with future-ready skills are yielding progress,” she said.

The reforms also include easier access to matching grants for state governments to implement Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes. Represented at the event by the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Olajuwon Akinyemi, Garba emphasized that even the best policies could fail if not communicated effectively.

“The work of strategic communicators breathes life into our policies. You are the storytellers who convey the tangible benefits of our initiatives to every corner of your states. You build trust and foster collaboration among parents, teachers, community leaders, and policymakers,” she said.

She urged the officers to translate UBEC’s vision into messages that resonate with Nigerians, stressing that the reforms aim to build a resilient, inclusive, and equitable basic education system for all children.

“This is not just a job; it is a national calling. Out-of-school children, teacher quality challenges, and the need for modern skills are realities we must transform,” Garba added.

She described the training programme as more than routine, noting that it was designed to sharpen skills, rethink communication strategies, and adopt innovative ways of engaging the public. “We must be proactive, passionate, and persuasive champions for basic education,” she concluded.