Undergraduates in tertiary institutions in the country have been tasked to explore growth opportunities while still in school to enhance their career prospects in Public Relations.
The advice was given on Saturday, May 22nd, during the sixth edition of the virtual Public Relations Students on Campus Summit, exclusively for students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State by the Nigerian Women in Public Relations (NGWIPR).
“To be well-positioned to practice PR in Nigeria, seek internship positions or volunteering roles and build a network of practising Public Relations professionals even as an undergraduate.
“By doing so, you stay abreast of industry trends and conversations. It is also important that you seek mentorship opportunities. Follow the footprint of a successful PR practitioner who will be available to guide you through the path of your career”, said Kenneth Adejumoh, the head of Corporate Communications at Nosak Group.
Enlightening the attendees on the future of Public Relations in Nigeria, Adejumoh said that “the industry would be more knowledge-driven considering the level of massive awareness that is prevalent in the industry. Also, technology will continue to enhance the PR practice with artificial intelligence. Today, there are artificial intelligence software applications that will enable you to write better, giving you better suggestions for phrases and grammar”.
He encouraged the students to be open to learning and stay up-to-date with new trends.
“There are new trends in the Public Relations industry. Years ago, no one was talking about social media or digital PR. Traditional media platforms were prevalent. Today, social media plays a significant role in Public Relations. Practitioners who were focused on leveraging traditional media for campaigns have upskilled to remain relevant. Beyond your degree, you need to invest in your self-development to excel in Public Relations”.
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He commended Nigerian Women In Public Relations for the Public Relations Students on Campus Summit, adding that during his undergraduate program, there was no organization that was keen on educating undergraduates about the PR profession.
The two young Public Relations professionals who shared their career journeys with the students were Tobiloba Olaosun and Bolanle Onilogbo.
Olaosun is an alumna of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and Communications Associate at a fast-rising tech company.
While Onilogbo studied at Babcock University and currently serves as the Communications Manager at Ikore International Development.
While addressing the students, Olaosun told the undergraduates to demystify the stereotype around polytechnic undergraduates being inferior to their university counterparts and explore all the opportunities available during their degree programs.
According to her, “it is not about the institution you attended, rather it is about your willingness to learn continually”.
She added that there are multiple internship opportunities for polytechnic undergraduates to explore and hone practical communication skills.
Olaosun who encouraged the attendees to be open to learning said they should take whatever opportunity to learn seriously. Volunteer, look out for start-up companies to grow with, and observe your mentors.”
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Speaking on how she transitioned from student to professional, Onilogbo said as a young woman, she was interested in making impacts. So, she considered various fields that could help her realize that objective.
“As a child, I loved reading. One day, after completing a book written by Ben Carson, I decided that I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I was not good in science subjects, so I switched to Arts class and started nursing the ambition to become a lawyer. Due to a number of factors, I eventually settled to study International Law and Diplomacy, then transitioned into public relations after my first degree”, she said.
She spoke further on the importance of workplace effectiveness, charging the students to “seek clarity concerning things they are unsure of, leverage YouTube to learn about new things, and take relevant online courses”. She encouraged them to commit to continuous learning, and never give up.
Speaking about the initiative, Abimbola Fapohunda, a Communications Associate at Nigerian Women In Public Relations described the PR Students on Campus Summit as “an initiative of Nigerian Women In PR designed to educate undergraduates about Public Relations and the various opportunities in the industry. Our aim is to inspire students to pursue a career in Public Relations and motivate them to reach for the top”.
Fapohunda introduced undergraduates to the Students Ambassadorship Program which is “created to identify and engage five female PR enthusiasts in each tertiary institution in Nigeria. In these institutions, each cluster Student Ambassador group will support the organisation in the attainment of its objective to educate the public on the importance and relevance of public relations to organisations and the society at large. In delivering on this objective, our Student Ambassadors will hone foundational PR skills that will help them thrive in entry-level PR roles.
Nigerian Women In Public Relations is a social impact organization focused on inspiring, empowering, and supporting female Public Relations professionals of Nigerian descent while improving access to career-advancing opportunities.
To achieve this objective, the organisation has designed a number of programs and events including PR Students on Campus Summit, Reverse Mentorship Workshop, Job Fair for Entry Level PR professionals, amongst others.
To learn more about our programmes and events, visit: ngwomeninpr.org
