My name is Oluwagbemisola Faithful Okeowo, I’m a 300-level Mass Communication student at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State. This is my second industrial training, a requirement for the award of a B.Sc. in Mass Communication by my school. It gives students first-hand experience of how things are done in the field and a chance to apply classroom theory to real-life situations.
I chose Isu Media Limited and Akweya TV because they offer services in development communication, strategic communication and public relations, and I wanted to grow in areas not fully covered in school. My expectations were to experience diverse areas of public relations, to become capable of carrying out assigned tasks independently, and to gain a wealth of new knowledge.
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About ISU Media Limited Akweya TV
Isu Media Limited is a development communication organisation that focuses primarily on NGOs and other entities. Akweya TV and Splendors of Dawn Poetry Foundation are initiatives that emerged from it. Akweya TV promotes the image and identity of underserved NGOs and educates the public about Akweya, a small sub-tribe within Idoma culture. Its activities include story writing, digital reputation management, production and reporting.
I have worked with all the departments: social media management, production, and media and events. The staff were hospitable and supportive; although I was very shy on arrival, they encouraged me to speak up and ask questions, which helped me settle in and participate more actively.
Initial Experience And Adjustment
My first assignment was to write a news story from materials provided, which helped my supervisors assess my abilities and decide where to begin training. It showed me the difference between learning from books and lectures and actually practising what I had learnt. Some tasks came with strict deadlines; this was challenging at first, but I adapted, rarely submitted work late and worked well with my team, since responsibilities were clearly divided.
Tasks And Responsibilities
- News writing and publishing: With my team, I wrote stories to meet weekly targets, sourced for news content from websites and downloaded images that were to be used as inserts. My supervisors reviewed and edited the stories before I published them on the Akweya TV website.
- Scriptwriting: I wrote scripts for a few shows, sourced for news stories and inserts according to each show’s requirements, which showed me how written material is adapted for presentation.
- Production and studio work: I worked behind the scenes and in front of the camera on recorded and live programmes. This included recording a poem I wrote for Nigeria’s Independence Day, and helping with studio setups.
Skills Acquired
The internship has helped me develop the following skills: news writing; scriptwriting; teleprompter use; voice-overs; studio setup; speaking and presenting on camera; self-expression; asking questions; and giving opinions on work done.
Challenges And How I Handled Them
My main challenge was communication. I found it hard to speak up and ask questions, often preferring to resolve problems alone. The team’s encouragement helped, as did the Managing Director of Isu Media and Akweya TV, Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, who reminded me that there were no right or wrong answers and that being corrected is part of learning.
I also struggled to manage several assignments with competing deadlines. I was advised to plan my time and prioritise important, pending and time-bound tasks. I had no difficulty accepting corrections from the Managing Director, supervisors or fellow interns, and I saw them as a necessity for improving my work and meeting the organisation’s standards.
Connecting Classroom Knowledge To Practice
School gave me mostly theoretical knowledge with limited practical exposure. At Isu Media and Akweya TV, I saw these concepts applied:
- Journalism: I applied news writing, news values and story structure by sourcing for materials, writing stories and selecting images for the story.
- Broadcasting: Scriptwriting, presentation, teleprompter use, voice-overs and studio activities showed me the practical processes of producing media content.
- PR and development communication: I participated in a stakeholder mapping assignment for MCCRA (Multilingualism, Conflict and Conflict Resolution Africa), which taught me the importance of identifying the people and groups involved in or affected by a project when planning communication.
Personal Growth And Areas For Improvement
The most noticeable change has been in my ability to communicate. I started out shy and quiet, and I am now more expressive and comfortable taking part in discussions. I have also learnt to manage time and deadlines while keeping to a standard.
I still want to become more confident in sharing ideas, handling assignments independently from research to final presentation, and improving my presentation skills, voice delivery, writing and editing, and my understanding of public relations and strategic communication. This internship was intended to seek clarification, learn outside school and explore areas where my experience is limited.
Expectations Versus Reality
I hoped to experience different areas of PR, work independently and gain new knowledge. So far I have worked across news writing, scriptwriting, production, broadcasting, digital publishing, public relations and development communication, and I have taken on tasks that called for independent thinking and teamwork. I have also learnt that growth requires more than technical skill: it also needs communication, adaptability, time management and a willingness to keep learning.
Appreciation
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Managing Director of Isu Media, Mr. Odoh Diego Okenyodo, for the opportunity to undergo my industrial training at his organisation and, most importantly, for the wealth of knowledge he shared with me throughout the experience.
Despite having decided that the organisation would no longer take interns, he still gave me the opportunity to be part of the team and learn from the wealth of experience within the organisation. I am particularly grateful for his patience, intelligence, and willingness to share his knowledge with others. He never missed an opportunity to correct me, encourage me to express my opinions, or help me understand things better. There was always something new to learn whenever I had the opportunity to interact with him. He provided me with a platform to put into practice the knowledge I had acquired in school and gain a better understanding of how things work in the field. His teachings and guidance have contributed immensely to my learning, and I sincerely appreciate him for that.
I also appreciate Mr. Jackson Odeh, my supervisor, and Mrs. Folusho Ogar, my industry coordinator, for their contributions to my learning and practical experience. Their guidance and support played an important role in helping me navigate my responsibilities throughout the training.
My appreciation also goes to Mr. Nathan Yohanna, Mr. Fredrick Stephen, and Ms. Blessing Abah for their consistent efforts in teaching me, putting me through my tasks, and providing guidance whenever I needed it. Their willingness to explain things, offer corrections, and help me improve each day is something I will not forget.
Finally, I would like to appreciate Ms. Oluchukwu Agha Amadi for sharing this experience with me. Having someone I already knew throughout the journey made the experience feel much easier and more comfortable. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and willingness to teach me the things you knew so that I could improve and grow alongside you. I am grateful to have shared this learning experience with you.
As the internship ends, I look forward to exploring more of public relations, strategic communication, development communication and media production. This experience would forever be a valuable foundation for life beyond the university.
