LAGOS NIPR Engages Covenant University Students OnPR Consultancy, Industry Trends And Professional Excellence
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, further strengthened its commitment to bridging the gap between academic learning and industry practice through a strategic engagement with final-year students of the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.
Representing the Lagos NIPR at the interactive session were the Vice Chairman of the Chapter, Mrs Eniola Mayowa, fnipr, and the Public Relations Officer, Oguchukwu Okeke, PhD. The engagement formed part of the students’ practical exposure under a course titled “The Consultancy Roadmap,” coordinated by Dr Kehinde Oyesomi, Associate Professor of Communication, alongside Dr Nkem Osere.
Speaking on behalf of the Head of Department, Dr Kehinde Oyesomi warmly welcomed the Lagos NIPR delegation, students and lecturers present at the session. She emphasised the importance of integrating industry realities with classroom teaching, noting that communication education becomes more impactful when students are exposed to practical experiences and professional mentorship.
The highpoint of the event was a detailed presentation titled “Strategic Industry Integration, Emerging Trends, and Professional Excellence.” The session exposed students to the evolving realities of the public relations profession and the strategic pathways required to build sustainable careers within the communication industry.
During the presentation, Dr Oguchukwu Okeke extensively discussed the contemporary public relations landscape, highlighting that public relations has evolved beyond publicity into a strategic reputation management function operating at executive and policy-making levels. He stressed the growing relevance of digital communication, crisis management, stakeholder engagement and data-driven PR in today’s business environment.
The presentation further examined emerging trends reshaping the profession, including artificial intelligence, digital media disruption, ESG communication, diversity and inclusion narratives, analytics-driven communication and online reputation management. Students were encouraged to embrace continuous learning and technological adaptability while maintaining the human and ethical foundations of communication practice.
At the point where the presentation reached the segment titled “PR Consultancy Deep Dive,” Mrs Eniola Mayowa took over the session and delivered practical insights on establishing and sustaining a successful PR consultancy business. Drawing from industry experience, she explained the importance of niche positioning, strategic networking, professionalism, ethical conduct and value-based service delivery in building successful communication enterprises.
The Lagos NIPR team also educated the students on the importance of professional certification and membership progression within the Institute, outlining the pathway from Graduate Membership to Fellowship. Students were encouraged to begin building their professional identities early through internships, volunteering, networking, thought leadership and participation in NIPR activities.
Practical industry integration strategies were equally discussed, including networking opportunities, sector specialisation, personal branding, digital skills acquisition and the use of modern PR tools such as media monitoring platforms, analytics dashboards, AI-powered communication tools and content development applications.
A major emphasis during the engagement was on ethics and professionalism. The students were reminded that integrity, transparency, accountability and responsible communication remain the bedrock of public relations practice, irrespective of technological advancements.
The session later transitioned into an engaging question-and-answer segment where students enthusiastically interacted with the speakers on issues ranging from career development, consultancy practice, artificial intelligence in PR, industry opportunities, networking, specialisation and professional growth pathways. The interactions reflected the students’ eagerness to learn, connect with professionals and gain deeper insights into the realities of the communication industry.
Following the student engagement, the Lagos NIPR delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Prof Lanre Amodu, who appreciated the Institute’s commitment towards mentoring and exposing students to industry realities. The delegation also visited the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Dr Ada Peter, who commended the Lagos NIPR leadership for investing in the future of communication professionals through practical engagement initiatives.
The visit was rounded off with a tour of the department’s community radio station, further reinforcing discussions around media practice, communication innovation and industry preparedness.
The outing once again underscored the Lagos NIPR Chapter’s commitment to strategic industry integration, professional mentoring and the development of the next generation of ethical, competent and globally competitive communication professionals.