Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company, has concluded its 2025 Annual Media Training Program in Abuja.
The initiative, which trained a total of 50 journalists from the Federal Capital Territory, underscores the company’s commitment to fostering media excellence, building entrepreneurship acumen, and promoting the economic well-being and career sustainability of media professionals.
The two-day programme provided media professionals with hands-on learning, expert-led sessions, and transformative insights into both the evolving media landscape and the various entrepreneurship opportunities available to practitioners.
Nigerian Professor of Political Economy and Management Expert, Professor Pat Utomi, delivered a session titled, “Can Managers or Professionals (such as Journalists) make good Entrepreneurs?” In his lecture, he meticulously differentiated between the entrepreneurial and managerial mindsets, examining trends, talent, and opportunities, and ultimately identifying entrepreneurship as a quantum leap in value creation.
Further preparing the attendees for life beyond the newsroom, Dr. Solomon Avbioroko, a former Director of the Lagos Business School, spoke on “Second Phase of Life: Overcoming the Phobia.”
He emphasized that retirement is not an end but a beginning, presenting an opportunity to experiment, explore, engage in valued pursuits, and reinvent one’s legacy. Dr. Avbioroko also anchored a session on “Ego States Profile and Impact on Transactional Analysis,” noting that Ego states are the foundational elements of Transactional Analysis, influencing how people communicate and interact.
The training covered crucial practical skills necessary for launching and sustaining a business. Uloma Okoro, a lawyer and serial entrepreneur, advised participants on “Developing A Business Model and Writing a Winning Business Plan.”
She stressed that professionals entering the business world must test the waters first before fully diving in, and underscored the importance of continuous learning, unlearning, and re-learning, as mistakes are integral to the learning process.
In the area of finance and leadership, seasoned Chemical Engineer and trainer Olu Onakoya addressed the socio-economic environment and challenges facing entrepreneurial ventures, covering entrepreneurial leadership, venture financing, and the importance of financial intelligence as a key enabler of prudent investment.
Furthermore, Abiola Adedeji, a seasoned trainer, espoused the importance and benefits of digital marketing in a session focusing on “Understanding Digital Marketing: With a focus on Customer Journey Mapping.”
He highlighted Digital Customer Journey Mapping as a key tool for creating a communication strategy that builds conversation with customers.
To keep journalists abreast of industry shifts, Nnamdi Uwaemelulam, a video editor and multimedia producer, led a session on “Media Technology: Trends, Importance & Adaptability.”
He emphasised the crucial need for media professionals to embrace evolving technologies, discussing innovative content formats, cross-platform media habits, and the critical role of personalisation and algorithms in modern media consumption.
Earlier, Stanley Opara, Manager of Corporate Communications at Seplat Energy Plc, who represented Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs & Social Performance, highlighted Seplat Energy’s firm commitment to developing the capacity of its media stakeholders and assuring them of the company’s continued partnership with the media.
The two-day event was a highly impactful blend of thought leadership, skill-building workshops, and interactive sessions, fostering a dynamic learning environment tailored to media professionals aspiring to venture into entrepreneurship, whether within the media field or other sectors.