By Stephanie Daniels
“The importance of this training cannot be overstated. It allows you to deepen your understanding of business principles, explore new revenue models, and leverage digital technologies to expand your reach and impact. By embracing entrepreneurship, you can create sustainable media ventures that inform and educate, empower communities, and contribute to economic development.”
That was the Director, External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, Mrs. Chioma Yvonne Afe, who spoke at the Media Entrepreneurship Training programme organized by the Company to empower certain categories of media practitioners on business development and expansion tenets. “This initiative” she said “would have lasting value beyond the company’s core relationship with the media.”
Seplat Energy had just last Thursday concluded stage two of its annual strategic media training programme in Lagos, the first leg of this comprehensive and enriching media entrepreneurship programme which was held earlier, also in Lagos, to reaffirm, says the Company, its continuous commitment to media excellence and entrepreneurship.
The training which had a good number of media professionals from across Nigeria in attendance for the two-day of hands-on learning, expert-led sessions, with transformative insights into the evolving media landscape and entrepreneurship opportunities open to media practitioners truly gave much more than each participant had bargained. It was specifically designed for selected correspondents covering the judiciary and energy sectors, as well as general business.
Mrs. Chioma Yvonne Afe said: “The importance of this training cannot be overstated. It allows you to deepen your understanding of business principles, explore new revenue models, and leverage digital technologies to expand your reach and impact. By embracing entrepreneurship, you can create sustainable media ventures that inform and educate, empower communities, and contribute to economic development.”
The programme featured distinguished facilitators and eloquent speakers like Dr. Solomon Avbioroko, who in his insightful session on “Self Search: Ego State Profile and Impact on Transactional Analysis,” emphasised the importance of networking and self-awareness in entrepreneurial success.
He encouraged participants to deepen and expand their reading habits and knowledge base, stating that success in business could still go beyond financial resources.
Barrister Mrs Uloma Okoro led a compelling session on “Developing a Business Model and Writing a Winning Business Plan” where she encouraged participants to launch their businesses with a clearly entrepreneurial mindset which will always be guided by personal skills and available resources with the deliberate exclusion of families and friends.
She provided practical examples of business plans and the inevitability of mistakes or failure in entrepreneurship.
On financial intelligence, Mr. Olu Onakoya discussed building wealth through smart investment decisions and risk assessment. He emphasised the need for a clear vision and importance of frugal spending. He shared personal experiences and stressed the imperative of understanding business numbers to facilitate better decision-making.
Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, addressed challenges faced by journalists today, notably the decline in readership. He urged journalists to uphold neutrality, conduct proper research, and verify their stories before publication.
On media technology, Mr. Nnamdi Uwaemelulam, a video editor and multimedia producer, emphasised the need for media professionals to embrace evolving technologies. He discussed innovative content formats, cross-platform media habits, and the critical role of personalization and algorithms.
Mr. Babajide Adisa, the Lagos State Director of the DSS, spoke on national security, the importance of intelligence gathering, and its legal frameworks. He stressed collaboration among government agencies, media, and the public in the fight against insecurity and terrorism.
Professor Pat Utomi shared insights on the entrepreneurial potential of professionals, especially journalists. He described entrepreneurs as individuals with a clear vision who solve problems and fill societal gaps.
Throughout the programme, participants received practical tools, insightful knowledge, and inspiration to confidently venture into media entrepreneurship. The training combined thought leadership, skill-building workshops, and interactive sessions with brain teasers, fostering a dynamic learning environment tailored to media professionals aspiring to lead and innovate in their fields. The event emphasised self-leadership, mentorship, strategic thinking, and relational intelligence as critical to sustainable business success.