Abuja: The Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme recently concluded a two-day workshop aimed at equipping communication officers with essential skills in strategic communication, impact storytelling, ethical reporting, and digital publishing. The initiative is part of the World Bank-funded programme’s efforts to improve water and sanitation services across urban, small-town, and rural areas.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop, inaugurated by the SURWASH Programme Coordinator Mr Abdulhamid Gwaram, underscored the importance of communication officers in documenting and disseminating the impacts of the programme. Mr David Oyedokun, representing Gwaram, emphasized that communication should transcend mere infrastructure delivery to highlight the human experiences, lessons, innovations, and successes achieved through SURWASH initiatives.
Awa Diagne, the SURWASH Task Team Lead at the World Bank, noted that the training would bolster officers’ ability to identify impactful narratives, create engaging content, and efficiently publish articles using the Blog Content Management System (CMS). The first day of the workshop featured sessions on storytelling techniques, ethical reporting, and digital audience engagement.
Mrs Olufunke Olufon from Iwa Consulting discussed the components of effective digital storytelling, emphasizing the need for a structured approach that connects people, challenges, interventions, and outcomes. World Bank communications specialist Mr Chuka Agu highlighted the necessity of informed consent in storytelling, warning against one-dimensional portrayals of communities that focus solely on poverty and vulnerability.
Mrs Tosin Kolade, NAN Features Editor, elaborated on the importance of humanizing data in development communication to foster understanding, trust, and sustainable change. She emphasized the dual role of communication officers as both reporters and storytellers of impact, advocating for a blend of data and human experiences to enrich development stories.
Communications specialist Mr Nneotabase Egbe stressed the importance of clarity and emotional engagement in public communication, urging participants to craft content that resonates with audiences. Mr Innocent Agboma of TakeOut Media reiterated the need to connect data with human narratives to maintain audience engagement.
Mrs Maryam Laushi Da-Silva and Mr Patrick Schindler addressed strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, respectively, highlighting the role of storytelling in capturing audience interest, communicating impact, and fostering collaboration for improved service delivery. Schindler referenced Sabesp, Brazil, as a model of effective stakeholder engagement that enhances institutional performance and attracts global support.
In her closing remarks, Co-Task Team Lead Mrs Judith Warmate commended the state communication officers for their dedication throughout the workshop. She encouraged them to continue developing impactful stories for the SURWASH Newsletter, thereby increasing the programme’s visibility and highlighting its community impacts.
The workshop included practical sessions on story development, lead writing, peer reviews, and coaching, with participants expected to produce human-interest stories showcasing SURWASH’s community interventions and their effects.