Media professionals have called on aspiring broadcasters and voice-over artistes to prioritise mentorship and continuous learning as essential tools for building sustainable careers in Nigeria’s evolving broadcast industry.

The call was made at the “On-Air & Rising Media Conference,” a capacity-building initiative designed to support young media professionals with less than five years of on-air experience, as well as individuals seeking to break into the broadcasting and voice-over space.

The event brought together industry veterans, trainers and aspiring talents for knowledge-sharing sessions focused on skill development, ethics and career navigation.

Speaking on the motivation behind organising the conference, the Convener, Adeyinka Victoria Akinremi, well known on radio as Super Girl, explained that her personal journey—from intern to presenter, producer and head of programmes—shaped her understanding of the value of structured guidance and professional mentorship.

According to her, the conference was created to bridge the knowledge gap often faced by new entrants into the industry and to provide clarity on career direction.

“Mentorship remains one of the most influential factors in determining long-term success in broadcasting. Mentorship makes up a significant part of one’s success in a career because mentors have walked the path, made mistakes and gained experience.

“I understand the power of impact, training and mentorship. If you have the right guidance, it becomes easier to navigate challenges and grow professionally as an aspiring and practising On-Air Person (OAP).

“Mentorship gives you access to lots of rich knowledge in the industry. For me, mentorship is what helped me to strive and fly so high in my career. Also, the connections and experience I got from them is what opened my eyes to understand the right way to navigate my chosen path,” Akinremi added.

Addressing common misconceptions about careers in broadcasting, the convener cautioned against the belief that speaking on radio or performing voice-over work requires minimal preparation. She emphasised that effective communication involves structured training, clarity of expression and an understanding of audience engagement.

“Everyone can talk, but not everyone can communicate effectively,” she said, noting that many aspiring broadcasters struggle with confidence and message delivery when placed in front of a microphone.

“Passing information and communication in a way that your listener understands and relates with is not something that happens magically; there’s a sequence to it, and that requires some basic media understanding and training, depending on which medium you have chosen to be a pro at,” Akinremi added.

She warned against the expectation of instant fame in the industry, stressing that long-term recognition is built on consistent impact rather than popularity.

The conference featured a series of panel and practical sessions tailored to equip participants with industry-relevant skills including Radio Presentation and Voice-Over Training. One of the sessions focused on creative writing, emphasising the importance of script development for radio and television programming.

A panel, led by Sesan Adeniji, General Manager, Vybz 94.5FM Lagos, explored recruitment expectations within media organisations and addressed the perception that opportunities in the Lagos broadcasting market are limited.

BBC-Emmy nominated journalist, Peter MacJob, and veteran broadcast journalists, public speaking/diction coach, public relations expert and compere, Regina Uren Chris-Ogbodo, shared insights on professional standards and ethical conduct, stressing the importance of discipline, credibility and audience engagement in building a reputable broadcasting career.