By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), in collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency an...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), in collaboration with the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Integrity Watch, on Tuesday organized a capacity-building workshop for Information and Public Relations Officers from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in Abuja.
The one-day training, themed “Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Management,” aimed to enhance the skills of government communication officers in interpreting and disseminating policies, promoting transparency, and countering misinformation in the public sphere.
According to a statement signed by Aliyu Umar, Head of Strategic Communications at BPSR, the workshop was designed to build the capacity of information managers to meet the communication demands of a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Declaring the workshop open, the Director-General of BPSR, Mr. Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi, emphasized the importance of strategic communication in policy implementation and public engagement.
“The success of any government is the sum total of the performance of its MDAs that implement policies and programmes. For these to succeed, citizens’ support is indispensable. But citizens cannot support what they do not understand,” Arabi stated.
He stressed the need for government communicators to offer clarity, credibility, and context, particularly in an era dominated by fake news, biased reporting, and distorted narratives.
Arabi also highlighted the challenges posed by the fragmented media environment, driven by digital and social media, noting that government must now move from being reactive to proactive in shaping public discourse.
"Government can no longer afford to be on the defensive. It must take the lead in shaping the narrative,” he added.
Participants were urged to apply the insights gained from the training in their respective MDAs, as timely and accurate communication is vital to effective governance and service delivery.
The workshop featured sessions on crisis and risk communication, stakeholder engagement strategies, and best practices for strengthening government communication frameworks.
Arabi commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for their continued support, reaffirming BPSR’s commitment to driving reform across the public service.
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