ACE Communication Officers attend workshop in Abidjan

Communication Officers of the Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) from all the centres in Africa have attended a 4-day workshop on communication skills and strategies in Abidjan, the capital city of Cote d’Ivoire.

The programme, held from April 26 to 29, 2023, was organised to equip participants with the necessary tools in developing diverse communication strategies and effective implementation methods.

Two officers from the National Open University of Nigeria’s Africa Centre of Excellence on Technology Enhanced Learning (ACETEL) equally took part in the training programme.

The officers were also exposed to the best practices in internal and external communication strategies, raising motivation and productivity as well as enhancing visibility for the Centres of Excellence.

During the workshop, some of the communication officers showcased their respective products to enhance visibility.

While some of them brought in newsletter publications and souvenirs customized for their centres, others wore uniform T-shirts to show teamwork and create publicity for the centre they represent.

There were presentations on: The Role of ACE Impact Communications Officers, The Power of Social Media, The Role of Communication Officers in Website Content Development, the WACCBIP Approach to SciComm, etc, all designed to inform and enlighten the participants on how to improve visibility.  

The Communication Manager for the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), in the University of Ghana, Andrew Muniru Nantogmah, in his presentation at the workshop, revealed the adopted communication strategy of his centre, which helped in getting public awareness and funds for the centre.

Nantogmah shared with participants how he and his communication team created a robust and functional Communications and Public Engagement Unit (CPU) that made the WACCBIP’s research output and innovation meaningful and impactful to society.

He stressed the need for community and public engagement activities and outreaches, stating that community engagement is a multi–faceted process of working collaboratively with a specific group of people on a shared goal or common interest.

At the end of the workshop, participants learnt various ways of creating visibility and earning funds for their centres.