Author: admin

During my time as a Communications Coordinator with Nigeria’s National Population Commission, I supported a large-scale census training and awareness initiative aimed at improving data accuracy and field coordination ahead of the national population census.

The campaign focused on ensuring that everyone involved from field enumerators to supervisors had clear and consistent guidance on census procedures, data entry, and community engagement. Working closely with senior trainers and regional coordinators, I helped organise and manage multiple training sessions, supporting training schedules, tracking attendance, and coordinating the distribution of materials across different local government areas.

Alongside the operational side, I played a key role in communication delivery. I wrote press releases and media briefings, produced internal updates, and translated complex census information into clear, accessible content. I also worked across multiple teams to ensure messaging remained aligned and consistent across different regions.

This experience strengthened my ability to combine clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and operational coordination to deliver impactful outcomes at scale.

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Key Skills & Impact

Assisted in organising and coordinating large-scale training sessions, improving participation and delivery efficiency

Delivered internal and external communications, including press releases and media briefings, securing 12 media placements across major national outlets

Translated complex census information into clear, accessible content, improving understanding among field staff

Coordinated messaging across multiple teams and regions, strengthening consistency and alignment

Supported stakeholder engagement across diverse groups, improving collaboration between trainers, coordinators, and field teams

Increased awareness and visibility of the national census training programme

In July 2019, I volunteered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lagos as part of Nigeria’s national polio immunisation campaign. It was a large-scale public health effort that reached over 51 million children across Africa through coordinated vaccination drives, awareness campaigns, and data collection.

As a Community Outreach and Communications Volunteer, I worked closely with local communities to help increase awareness and encourage vaccine uptake. A big part of my role was breaking down important public health information into clear, simple messages that people could understand and trust.

I spoke directly with over 100 residents, answering questions, addressing concerns about immunisation, and reinforcing why vaccination matters. Each interaction was different, so I had to adapt how I communicated depending on people’s concerns, cultural context, and level of awareness.

Alongside community engagement, I also supported the collection and registration of household data. This played an important role in tracking immunisation coverage and ensuring that no communities were missed. It also helped identify areas that needed more attention, making the campaign more targeted and effective.

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Key Skills

• Public engagement and community outreach
• Health communication and behaviour change
• Stakeholder communication across diverse groups
• Data collection and reporting support
• Simplifying complex information into clear, accessible messages

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Impact

• Contributed to a campaign that reached over 51 million children across Africa
• Engaged 100+ community members to support vaccine awareness and uptake
• Supported accurate data collection to improve immunisation tracking and coverage

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Key Insight

This experience deepened my understanding of how effective communication can drive real behaviour change. It showed me that impact isn’t just about sharing information, it’s about building trust, understanding your audience, and delivering messages in a way that truly connects.