Nigeria's Public Sector Gets AI Communication Training Program
Nigeria's Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) and Image Merchants Promotion Limited will jointly run a national training program on strategic communication and artificial intelligence for public sector executives. The program brings together communication managers from roughly 400 ministries, departments, and agencies across the country on July 27, 2026, in Kano State.
The training targets communication professionals working in federal institutions, state information ministries, universities, teaching hospitals, and medical centers. Participants will cover crisis communication management, AI integration, media strategy, and public perception management.
Who's involved
BPSR Director-General Dasuki Ibrahim Arabi will deliver a keynote address and serve as a facilitator. Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, Head of Special Projects and Investigation at IMPR, led the coordination meetings that finalized the program structure.
Mallam Aliyu Umar, BPSR's Head of Communication and Strategy, said the initiative aligns with the bureau's mandate to modernize public institutions and strengthen governance through improved communication capacity.
Program structure
The training combines both senior and mid-level communication staff in a single framework designed to encourage peer learning and institutional collaboration. Sessions will focus on practical communication leadership, AI applications in governance, and messaging around public sector reform.
The single-location model replaces a multi-city approach to reduce costs and improve coordination. Invitation letters have already gone out to federal universities, teaching hospitals, colleges of education, and state ministries of information.
Why this matters for communicators
Public sector communication in Nigeria operates under distinct constraints. Communicators must navigate multiple stakeholder groups, manage institutional messaging, and increasingly integrate digital tools. This training addresses a gap: most public sector communication professionals lack formal exposure to AI applications and contemporary digital strategy.
For PR and communications professionals in the public sector, understanding how AI shapes information management and media outreach is becoming essential. If you work in government communications, see AI for PR & Communications for relevant skill-building resources.
Those seeking structured learning on AI in public relations can explore the AI Learning Path for Public Relations Specialists, which covers brand communication, media outreach, and crisis management - core topics in this program.
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