Redeemers University trumped Fountain University and Westland University in the maiden edition of the pitching competition held yesterday by the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
In the battle for supremacy of the best Public Relations team in universities located in Osun State, Redeemers University scored 72.7 per cent to beat Fountain University, Osogbo, which had 62.6 per cent; and Westland University (45.3 per cent) in the top 3 contest.
Tagged ‘Osun PR Challenge’, the competition for universities offering Mass Communication in the state, was held at the Opolo Global Innovations Hub at the main campus of Osun State University, Osogbo.
The competition was organised to expose the prospective Public Relations practitioners to the practical experience, and bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical aspects of the profession.
The panelists was made up of the Executive Director of Brooks and Blake, Mr. Taiwo Ogunwumi; former Managing Director of Ecobank, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan; Group CEO of Verdant Zeal, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi; Founder/Chairperson of Women in Public Relations, Mrs. Tolulope Olorundero; and Head of Corporate Affairs/Sustainable Business at Unilever, Mr. Godfrey Adejumoh.
On behalf of the panelists, Ogunwumi explained that the students were examined using five basic criteria – presentation skill, knowledge of the subject matter, development of points/organisation, appearance/carriage, and communication/use of language.
Redeemers University won the challenge with the presentation of two communication plans – ‘Crisis Management: Peak Milk Easter Flyer’, and ‘In-harmony Challenge of Smoov Chapman’.
NIPR’s Vice President, Deputy Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi lauded the idea behind the challenge and saluted the students’ courage for warming up to the task. He also commended their lecturers for guiding them through their communication plans.
Adeniyi advised the undergraduates to leverage and harness their skills as a team when they become certified practitioners, to achieve collective goals in the industry. He noted that the PR challenge would serve as an eye-opener for the participants and give them an idea of what to expect in the real world of practice.
Chapter chairman, Mr. Ademola Adesoji said that the state chapter would make it a tradition to hold the PR challenge yearly, as the competition not only exposed participants to PR practice, but also firms to prospects in building the next generation of industry stalwarts and gurus.
