PRWF has called on communications professionals to demonstrate measurable contributions to business growth, revenue and organisational performance, stressing that public relations must move beyond media visibility to become a strategic driver of corporate success.

The call was made at the foundation’s Premium Members’ Club (PMC) Soirée 3.0, held in Lagos on Thursday, October 29, where 22 senior women in public relations and communications gathered to discuss industry developments, leadership transitions, professional achievements and the evolving role of communications in business.

At the event, PRWF announced plans to host an invitation-only roundtable, themed “Beyond Visibility: A PRWF Roundtable on the Value of Communications,” on November 18, 2026, on the sidelines of the World PR Forum in Abuja.

Scheduled to hold from 1pm to 3pm, the roundtable will bring together business executives and communications leaders from Africa, Asia and other regions to examine how public relations practitioners can better demonstrate the commercial value of their work.

The discussions will also provide an opportunity for business leaders to articulate their expectations of communications professionals, while practitioners identify the institutional support required to deliver measurable business outcomes.

Participants at the soirée observed that corporate communications is increasingly assuming responsibilities traditionally managed by human resources departments, particularly in internal communications, employee engagement and organisational reputation.

They maintained that the effectiveness of communications should no longer be assessed solely through media coverage, publicity or audience impressions, but also through its contribution to revenue generation, market share, stakeholder confidence and organisational objectives.

Speaking during the discussions, Lead Consultant at Stage Africa Media and Advisory, Omotoyosi Ajayi, emphasised the importance of demonstrating measurable business value, drawing from her professional transition from sales to communications consultancy.

Similarly, Stella Ijeoma Olugbemi of Egbin Power Plc highlighted the need to evaluate corporate social responsibility initiatives beyond their visibility, particularly through partnerships, opportunities and sustainable outcomes.

Chioma Nwachukwu of Japan Tobacco International encouraged practitioners to develop a stronger understanding of business operations and financial performance, noting that communications professionals must understand how organisations generate revenue to contribute meaningfully to strategic decision-making.

The gathering also provided an opportunity to celebrate professional milestones and leadership succession within the industry.

Hosted by Victoria Uwadoka, the soirée marked her retirement from Nestlé and the introduction of her successor, Toju Egbebi, Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, to senior communications professionals.

Uwadoka reflected on the importance of succession planning, revealing that preparations for the leadership transition began two years earlier.

She encouraged established professionals to deliberately create opportunities for emerging leaders through mentorship, knowledge sharing and access to professional networks.

Participants were also encouraged to extend support to Egbebi as she assumes her responsibilities.

Beyond the leadership transition, members celebrated individual achievements recorded during the year, including new appointments, business milestones and educational advancement.

Among the accomplishments shared were a career move into a major international oil company, the fifth anniversary of a communications agency and progress by members pursuing MBA and doctoral programmes.

Executive Director of PRWF, Tolulope Olorundero, said the foundation remains committed to creating opportunities for women to build meaningful professional relationships, strengthen their leadership capacity and support one another’s career advancement.

“We have women doing important work across the profession, leading organisations, advising businesses and shaping decisions. But leadership can be demanding, and there is real value in having a community of women who understand the work and can support one another,” she said.

Olorundero added that the Premium Members’ Club was designed to provide an enabling environment for professional collaboration, mentorship and collective advancement.

“We want to create more opportunities for these relationships to grow, for knowledge to be shared and for women to champion each other’s progress. That is an important part of what the Premium Members’ Club is building,” she stated.

The foundation also disclosed that its activities have expanded fivefold since its restructuring, reflecting its growing engagement with women in the communications industry.

Other participants at the soirée included Editor of Guardian Woman, Ijeoma Thomas-Odia; Chief Operating Officer of Saldrey Communications Limited, Omotayo Okewunmi; Regional Manager, East Africa, and Chief Consultant at BHM Holdings, Njideka Akabogu; Head of Communications, Brand and Events at HBM Nigeria Plc, Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor; and Corporate Communications Manager at Sunbeth Group, Eyitemi Adebowale.

Also present were Head of Corporate Communications, Sustainability and CSR at Guinness Nigeria, Olukemi Ogunsakin; Director of Public Affairs and Communication and General Counsel at CHI Limited, Aramide Nwokediuko; Director of Corporate Communications and Media Relations at NITDA, Hadiza Umar; and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategist at M.Inc PR, Mirabel Emma Aleladia.

PRWF encouraged senior women in public relations and communications interested in joining its professional network to register for the 2027 Premium Members’ Club waitlist through its website.

Applications for the next membership cycle are expected to open between January and March 2027.

The foundation maintained that strengthening women’s leadership and advancing conversations around measurable business impact would remain central to its efforts to position communications as an essential function in organisational decision-making.