PR practitioners counsel undergraduates on benefits of internship, mentorship

Nigerian Women In Public Relations (NWIPR) has tasked undergraduates to explore growth opportunities while still underdoing their respective degrees.

The association recently staged the sixth edition of its public relations students summit at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

Kenneth Adejumoh, head of corporate communications at Nosak Group, who spoke at the event, charged the students to take advantage of internships.

“To be well-positioned, seek internships or volunteering roles, and build a network of practicing PR professionals even as an undergraduate. By doing so, you stay abreast of industry trends and conversations,” he noted.

“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.”

Enlightening the attendees on the future of PR in Nigeria, Adejumoh said: “The industry would be more knowledge-driven considering the level of massive awareness that is prevalent in the industry.

“Tech 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.

“There are new trends in the PR 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.”

Tobiloba Olaosun and Bolanle Onilogbo, two PR professionals, shared their journey with the students.

Olaosun is an alumnus of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and a communications associate at a tech company while Onilogbo studied at Babcock University and serves as the communications manager at Ikore International Development.

Addressing the students, Olaosun charged them to put an end to the stereotype of polytechnic undergraduates being inferior to their university counterparts.

She added that there are multiple internship opportunities for polytechnic undergraduates to explore and hone practical communication skills.

Onilogbo spoke of how she transitioned from student to professional. She said, as a young woman, she was interested in making an impact, so she considered various fields that could help her realise that objective.

She spoke 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”.

Abimbola Fapohunda, NWIPR communications associate, described the summit as “an initiative designed to educate undergraduates about public relations and the various opportunities in the industry”.