My name is Benedict Barnabas, a 200-level Mass Communication student at Bowen University and an intern at Isu Media. When I first came to Isu Media, I came with a simple goal: to learn. I wanted to understand Public Relations and Advertising beyond the theories I had encountered in the classroom. I wanted to see how communication worked in the real world, work with professionals and, most importantly, discover what I could do with the skills I was learning.
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My journey officially began before my first day at the office.
I had my interview with Mrs. Folusho Ogar, who welcomed me and took me through the interview process. During our conversation, she pointed out something that immediately caught my attention. She told me that I appeared very confident and asked whether I was certain that I would be able to deliver if I was given the opportunity to intern at Isu Media.
Without hesitation, I told her yes.
Two weeks later, I received the message I had been waiting for. I was informed that I would resume at Isu Media at 8:00 a.m. on July 6, 2026.
That message marked the beginning of three months that would become much more than an internship to me.
Walking Through the Door
My first morning at Isu Media began with the Monday morning planning meeting. The team gathered to discuss the plans for the week, the responsibilities ahead and the activities that needed to be carried out.
It was also my first opportunity to meet and become familiar with the people I would be working with.
During the meeting, I was introduced to Mr. Frederick Gata Stephen, who became my assigned supervisor. As a cinematographer, he was part of the production team, and through him, I was introduced to a side of media work that would become a major part of my experience.
I found myself behind the camera, capturing behind-the-scenes moments and documenting different programmes, events and activities taking place within the organization. There was something exciting about being behind the camera.
The things I had previously seen as finished productions began to look different. I started noticing the preparation, the people, the equipment, the movement and the small details that come together before an audience ever sees the final product.
Mr. Frederick Gata Stephen introduced me to different camera settings and aspects of production. He also taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my internship: feedback is part of growth.
One of my earliest experiences involved getting in front of the camera and introducing myself. I made a few mistakes and received corrections on my positioning, presentation and delivery.
I did not see those corrections as discouragement. Instead, they became an opportunity to improve.
Each correction gave me something new to work on, and each revision brought me a little closer to getting things right.
Looking back, I realize that some of my most valuable lessons came from moments when I did not get things right the first time.
Discovering the Many Sides of Media
As the weeks passed, my experience expanded beyond production.
I had the opportunity to work with Mrs. Folusho Ogar on uploading news stories to the organisation’s website. She introduced me to the backend and taught me how to work with it.
This was particularly interesting because I had previously tried to design a website myself. Working with a website in a professional media organisation gave me a new perspective on digital publishing and showed me how what I was learning worked in a real media environment.
I also worked with Mr. Jackson Odeh on behind-the-scenes content, PR content and research.
These assignments taught me to think beyond simply completing a task. I began asking: What can I create from this? How can this information be communicated better? What other possibilities are hidden within this content?
Gradually, I learned that creativity in media is not always about creating something from nothing. Sometimes, it is about looking at what you already have and discovering what else it can become.
Seeing Public Relations Differently
Through team discussions and hands-on assignments, I learned that digital Public Relations goes beyond publicity—it is about managing communication, relationships, and reputation to correct misconceptions. Applying these academic concepts in practice was exciting.
Our Managing Director, Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, challenged us to deepen our research, organize our thoughts, and communicate clearly. Though demanding, each presentation and correction helped me grow. I was also fortunate to share this journey with my fellow interns, Ms. Aishat Omowunmi Yekeen and Ms. Praise Otor Peters, whose collaboration and support enriched the experience.
When Learning Became Something I Could Share
One moment that highlighted my growth was when coursemates doing internships elsewhere reached out for guidance. Sharing what I learned at Isu Media made me realize I was no longer just seeking knowledge, but sharing it.
A key lesson from Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo completely shifted my perspective on content creation: a single speech or statement can yield multiple quotes and supply content for several flyers and communications. I realized content creation is rarely limited by resources, but by how we view what we already have an insight I carry with me to this day.
More Than a Degree
Perhaps the biggest lesson I have taken from these three months is one I created for myself
What is greater than getting a degree is what you gain while getting the degree
A degree is important. It represents years of education, hard work and commitment. But the journey towards earning that degree also introduces us to people, experiences, challenges and opportunities that can shape who we become.
My time at Isu Media made this idea clearer to me.
I met people whose knowledge I could continue to draw from. I gained practical experience that I could not have acquired from textbooks alone. I encountered situations that challenged me to think differently. I received corrections that helped me improve.
And perhaps most importantly, I built relationships.
Knowing that even after my internship, I can look back and remember people who taught me something valuable gives the experience an importance that goes beyond the duration of the internship.
Finding Possibilities for the Future
My time at Isu Media also helped me see Mass Communication differently.
Over the course of the internship, I gained experience in Public Relations, video editing, content creation, studio production, journalism and digital media. I learned how to develop promotional content from footage, participate in studio sessions, interact with guests, work behind the scenes and approach communication with professionalism and ethics.
One experience that stands out was my involvement with Digital PR Connect.
Ms. Aishat Omowunmi Yekeen served as the host of the programme, while I worked as the editor. With guidance and corrections from my supervisors, I learned how to take recorded material and transform it into a finished programme suitable for publication.
The experience was rewarding because I could see the result of my work.
I was not simply learning how to edit a video. I was learning how an idea moves from production to post-production and eventually becomes something an audience can watch.
It also got me thinking about the future.
I began imagining the kind of content I could create after university, the programmes I could produce and the stories I could tell. I started seeing possibilities in areas I had previously considered from a distance.
My internship was gradually becoming more than an opportunity to acquire work experience. It was helping me understand the kind of communicator I wanted to become.
Looking Back
Three months can sound like a short period.
But within those three months, I experienced enough to change the way I look at media, communication and my own abilities.
I came in wanting to learn Public Relations and Advertising. I leave the experience with lessons in production, editing, journalism, digital media, content creation, reputation management, teamwork, communication and professional conduct.
I came in confident that I could deliver.
Along the way, I learned that confidence is only the beginning. The real growth comes from being willing to learn, accept corrections, try again and keep improving.
The cameras, editing timelines, meetings, assignments, presentations, productions and conversations all became pieces of a much bigger experience.
And when I look back at the person who walked into Isu Media on July 6, 2026, I am happy that I did not remain exactly the same person who walked through that door.
I learned.
I created.
I made mistakes.
I received corrections.
I improved.
I met people.
I built relationships.
And most importantly, I discovered new possibilities for myself.
As a Mass Communication student, my journey is far from over. But the experience at Isu Media has given me something valuable to carry into the next chapter: the confidence to keep learning, the willingness to keep creating and the understanding that sometimes, the most important part of education is not what you receive at the end, but who you become along the way.
