Sesema moves to build capacity for new PR entrants

Despite the huge unemployment situation bedeviling our nation currently, many employers of labor have insisted they find it difficult to attract the right talent to their organisations. The concern centers on the non-employability of some Nigerian graduates due to the huge disconnect between what is taught in the classroom and the reality in the workplace.

The Public Relations sector is not an exception to this issue as many industry experts have bemoaned the quality of manpower in the sector. Top on the list is the depreciation in creative employees with good writing skills; therefore, most of the brands are left with recycled ideas, poorly written contents and PR plans that do not entirely address brand challenges.

Most of the new entrants are said to have poor educational background, lacking in key attributes, attitudes and skills such as presentation and research.One thing that everyone agrees with however is that there is a need for an influx of new talents into the Public relations industry.

As an upwardly mobile corporate body, Sesema Public Relations (SPR) decided to take the bull by the horn by addressing this critical industry challenge by investing in resources that would see quality talents groomed for the industry.In its 14 years, Sesema PR has shown deep commitment to carrying out programs targeted at building capacity among youths.

Top among these initiatives: is the recently concluded annual Corporate Communication’s Pitch Competition (CCPC); an initiative where bright Nigerian communications graduates who are interested in Public relations are given an opportunity to get a head start in the industry.The team also runs a talent management brand called Breach and Buckler that focuses its attention on giving creative minds an opportunity to be seen. It is a way of giving back to the society by managing talents and increasing the productivity in creative people.

In continuation of its goal to increase the capacity of our youths by grooming them in the act of communications, the firm has birthed a novel idea called “Corporate Communications Interactive Forum (CCIF)”.The one-day interactive session brought together undergraduates and graduates who have an interest in the Corporate Communications sector, to give them a practical introduction into the field.

Participants also had opportunity to network with industry professionals and gain vital career insights.Speaking at the Forum, the Managing Director of Sesema PR, Tampiri Irimagha-Akemu; noted that the CCIF program was birthed due to the gap we noticed in hiring quality PR graduates and professionals. “As an organization, we are actively involved in the growth and development of the Nigerian youth.

“We identified a lag and as an agency passionate about mentorship we are committed to making a lasting mark. This is why we have organised this program today, to improve the quality of manpower and give young people a chance at self-development”

As a creative agency, we are committed to innovation; the CCIF is another first for Sesema PR. We will continue to seek ways of impacting the society positively”. Mrs Irimagha-Akemu concluded.She also shared experiences with the participants and gave clear insights using real PR case studies throughout the forum.

Damilola Sobajo and Olutayo Irantiola, the Sesema in-house team, facilitated sessions on the key skills needed to succeed in the PR sector. Other topics covered by them include; Ethics in public relations and writing press releases. “A good PR campaign must have a clear objective; in building a brand, honesty is extremely important. Public Relations is used to validate a brand not to promote false advertising. No matter how good a brand is, they still need PR to build proper relationships with their audience”.

The participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to attend the program; they noted that opportunities like the CCIF are rare in the industry and they would be glad to attend future sessions. On his part, Tomiwa Aladekomo—of the Ventra Media Group gave a practical lesson on digital marketing and branding.

He noted that “Proper communication skills is essential to succeeding in the marketing industry and It is important to be passionate about what you do/or want to do for a living.He further advised the participants to define their identity, their audiences and the content they want to pass across before engaging in any digital campaign.

“It’s important as a brand to narrow your area of focus, find your niche. Do not wait for a job to do what you want to do; start doing it on your own” Mr. Aladekomo Added.Duvie Great, one of the participants at the forum, said that, “I am happy to be selected for this forum. Being here has changed my perspective of the PR industry, I learnt that Public relations is the lifeblood of many companies and there is no one-size-fits it all approach to handling PR issues”.

The Corporate Communications Interactive Forum (CCIF) will be held every quarter. This initiative is another way Sesema public relations reinforces its commitment to investing in Nigerian youths and grooming creative minds.