Strengthening Humanitarian Communication: dRPC Hosts Capacity-Building Workshop for FMOHA Data Desk Officers

On 13th August 2025, the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) hosted a one-day intensive workshop for Data Desk Officers of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMOHA) at its Training Centre in Abuja.

Themed “Effective and Responsive Communication for Humanitarian Response”, the training brought together communication experts, government officials, and media professionals to build the capacity of ministry officers in delivering clear, accurate, and impactful humanitarian messages.

Opening Session

The workshop began with a call to order led by Mal. Umar Kawu, followed by a warm welcome address from Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, Executive Director of dRPC. In his opening remarks, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, Ph.D., Permanent Secretary of FMOHA, declared the training officially open, emphasising the importance of strengthening communication systems in addressing humanitarian and poverty-related challenges in Nigeria.

Key Training Modules

The workshop featured a series of interactive modules and practical sessions, including:

  • Effectiveness of Humanitarian Communication & Social Media Outreach – led by Mr. Emeka Nzeih of Digital Bridge.
  • Addressing Misperceptions and Misinformation around the National Social Register – facilitated by Mr. Nwanze Okonkwo.
  • Communicating Humanitarian Forecasts – by Dr. Umar and Dr. J. Sanda of NIPSS, focusing on tailoring messages to diverse audiences.
  • Harnessing AI and New Media for Real-Time Communication & Countering Disinformation – presented by Prof. Onyemechi D. Okocha, Chair of the UN Association of Nigeria.
  • Data Visualization for Effective Humanitarian Communication – conducted by Mr. Damilola Ojetunde, Data Editor, BBC Africa.
  • Strengthening Humanitarian Communication: Three Urgent Actions for Improvement – a group work session engaging all participants.

Closing Reflections

The day concluded with reflections on next steps and a vote of thanks delivered by Umar Kawu, highlighting the collective commitment to improving communication systems that directly impact vulnerable populations across Nigeria.

In the second day, photographers and videographers from the ministry were also trained on ethics and data visualisation in humanitarian coverage by Dr Theophilus Abbah, Mr Damilola Ajetunde and Mr Jackson Odeh.

Through these workshops, dRPC reaffirmed its role as a leading partner in advancing effective communication strategies for humanitarian response, ensuring that accurate data and timely information shape the nation’s fight against poverty and crisis.