Build Professional Skills While In School – PR Students Urged

Baba Sadiq Abdulai Abu, High Commissioner-designate to Nigeria, has urged Public Relations students to enhance their education with practical experience, emphasizing that real-world exposure is crucial for effective communication professionals. At the PR Dialogue, a World PR Day Festival event, he urged students to actively seek internships, volunteer opportunities, and practical projects to build confidence and strengthen their skills.

Organized by Global Media Alliance, the dialogue aimed to prepare the next generation of PR practitioners for the profession's demands. Baba Sadiq highlighted that while academic training provides foundational knowledge, practical experience is what turns students into professionals. He explained that education equips students with vocabulary, but experience is required to develop fluency; simply reading a dictionary is insufficient.

To become proficient in PR, students must engage in activities that build confidence, such as writing, creating, pitching ideas, and seeking feedback. Baba Sadiq emphasized that professional growth demands initiative and continuous improvement, urging students not to wait until they feel fully prepared before practicing their skills.

He encouraged students to start early, take their studies seriously, and embrace challenges like volunteering, writing, creating, and pitching ideas despite potential rejection. "Growth rarely happens within your comfort zone," he concluded.