The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi, has charged Heads of Public Relations and Protocol across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the need to ensure effective information management for enhanced implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) programmes across the country.
Bobboyi gave the charge at a 2-day training programme for UBEC and SUBEB Heads of Public Relations and Protocol from 36 states and FCT, with the theme: Challenges of Contemporary Media Practises and Their Implications for UBE Programme Implementation, held in Nasarawa State.
A statement by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit of UBEC, Mr. David Apeh, on Tuesday in Abuja quoted Bobboyi as saying that media remains critical to the successful implementation of UBE programmes and activities across the states of the Federation.
Bobboyi, who was represented by Malam Abubakar Hassan, Deputy Director, Finance and Account, insisted that as information managers at the federal and state levels, the public relations personnel were expected to do their work more efficiently and effectively while promoting the activities of the Commission and SUBEBS, respectively.
He reiterated the commitment of UBEC towards ensuring that every Nigerian child is given access to basic education as well as eliminating the menace of out-of-school children in the country.
He said it was against this backdrop that the annual training programme is organised by UBEC to strengthen the skills of Heads of Public Relations and Protocol across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to effectively promote the Universal Basic Education programme’s key ideals and mobilise their various states towards the sector’s development.
He also promised to address the concerns raised by the participants, especially as it affects their work in various states.
Earlier, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol at UBEC, Mr David Apeh, said the training was designed to help the public relations officers sharpen their PR strategies.
He said he was glad that the Commission is sustaining the training for heads of public relations and protocol.
According to him, the publicity aspect of basic education is one of the critical parts of UBE, and he hoped that sustaining the training would be a continuous and regular one.
Apeh said: “The country is looking up to the Public Relations Officers of UBEC and SUBEB to take the lead in our quest to use education for the transformation of our society for the benefit of all.”
“Let me take this opportunity to assure you all that the Commission remains committed to the promotion of quality education delivery at all levels through propagating and disseminating the activities and achievements in the basic education sub-sector,” he stated.
One of the resource persons, Dr Peter Ogudoro, in his presentation at the event entitled “PR Power for Revolutionary Education in Nigeria,” urged the participants to settle for an intelligent mix of orthodox and new media while always trying to equip themselves for effective management of issues, including crises.
He added that effective implementation of UBE programmes requires PR personnel to think outside the box when driving the ideals of the programme.
(Tribune online)
