Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead at WootLab

Programme Background

• The North Central ESO Aggregator Programme is an initiative that seeks to reach 25,000 beneficiaries across
• 11 tertiary institutions in Nigeria's North Central region (Benue, FCT, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and
• Plateau) with training in general entrepreneurship skills and the digital and creative sectors specifically. The
• programme will adopt a training, incubation, and acceleration approach through a network of
• Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs).
• The programme includes the delivery of beneficiary-facing training tracks (Foundational, Developmental, and
• Specialised) and close coordination with participating tertiary institutions across the North Central region.

Role Purpose

• To lead the Programme’s communications and stakeholder engagement function, ensuring clear, consistent,
• and well-documented communication with the PCU, tertiary institutions, ESOs, consortium partners, and the
• wider ecosystem, and supporting visibility, outreach, and engagement activities that advance Programme goals across all North Central states.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead dissemination of Programme calls (e.g. ESO applications, beneficiary mobilisation, opportunity
• announcements) to relevant institutions, ESOs, and ecosystem stakeholders across the 7 North Central states.
• Manage day-to-day stakeholder communication on behalf of the Programme, ensuring timely, accurate, and professionally drafted correspondence with the PCU, tertiary institutions, ESOs, and consortium partners.
• Prepare and circulate institutional updates, including progress briefs, newsletters, and status communications to keep stakeholders informed of Programme milestones and activities.
• Coordinate ecosystem engagement activities, building and maintaining relationships with tertiary institutions, government agencies, ESOs, and other ecosystem actors relevant to the Programme’s objectives.
• Plan and coordinate community networking events, including stakeholder convenings, ecosystem meetups, and Programme-led engagement sessions across target states.
• Lead public-facing communication efforts, including coordination of Programme messaging, media engagement where applicable, and alignment of communication materials with donor and BOI visibility requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of all engagement activities, including stakeholder contact records, meeting notes, communication logs, and outreach outcomes.
• Support the Team Lead / Project Manager and workstream leads with communication materials and talking points for PCU briefings, donor updates, and stakeholder meetings.
• Coordinate with the Technical Lead / ESO Coordinator and State-Level Coordinators to ensure consistent messaging and information flow between national-level Programme communications and state-level field activities.
• Monitor stakeholder feedback and escalate emerging issues, concerns, or reputational risks to the Team Lead / Project Manager in a timely manner.
• Support reporting cycles by providing communication and engagement updates for inclusion in quarterly progress reports and milestone reports submitted to the PCU and donors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Mass Communication, International Development, or a related field.
• A minimum of 4–6 years of relevant experience in communications, stakeholder engagement, or public relations, ideally within donor-funded programmes, development projects, or multi-stakeholder ecosystems.
• Demonstrated experience managing relationships with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society or private-sector partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, professional materials for varied audiences, including donors, government, and grassroots stakeholders.
• Experience planning and coordinating events, convenings, or outreach activities, ideally across multiple locations or states.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain accurate engagement documentation and manage multiple communication threads simultaneously.
• Familiarity with the North Central Nigerian ecosystem (tertiary institutions, ESOs, government structures) is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel within the North Central states to support engagement and networking activities as required.