Media Experts Urge Young Broadcasters to Prioritize Mentorship for Career Success
Media professionals have issued a strong call to aspiring broadcasters and voice-over artists, urging them to embrace mentorship and commit to continuous learning as essential strategies for building sustainable and successful careers in Nigeria's rapidly evolving broadcast industry. This appeal was made during the On-Air & Rising Media Conference, a capacity-building initiative specifically designed to support young media professionals with less than five years of on-air experience, as well as individuals seeking to break into the broadcasting and voice-over sectors.
Bridging the Knowledge Gap Through Structured Guidance
The event brought together industry veterans, experienced trainers, and aspiring talents for intensive knowledge-sharing sessions focused on skill development, ethical practices, and effective career navigation. Speaking on the motivation behind organizing the conference, the convener, Adeyinka Victoria Akinremi, widely known on radio as Super Girl, explained that her personal journey—from intern to presenter, producer, and head of programmes—profoundly shaped her understanding of the immense value of structured guidance and professional mentorship.
According to Akinremi, the conference was created to bridge the significant knowledge gap often faced by new entrants into the industry and to provide much-needed clarity on career direction. Mentorship remains one of the most influential factors in determining long-term success in broadcasting, she stated. Mentorship makes up a significant part of one's success in a career because mentors have walked the path, made mistakes, and gained invaluable experience.
Akinremi elaborated further, noting, I understand the power of impact, training, and mentorship. If you have the right guidance, it becomes easier to navigate challenges and grow professionally as an aspiring and practising On-Air Person (OAP). She added that mentorship provides access to rich industry knowledge, connections, and experiences that can illuminate the right path forward, sharing, For me, mentorship is what helped me to strive and fly so high in my career.
Dispelling Misconceptions and Emphasizing Professionalism
Addressing common misconceptions about careers in broadcasting, the convener cautioned against the belief that speaking on radio or performing voice-over work requires minimal preparation. She emphasized that effective communication involves structured training, clarity of expression, and a deep understanding of audience engagement. Everyone can talk, but not everyone can communicate effectively, she remarked, noting that many aspiring broadcasters struggle with confidence and message delivery when placed in front of a microphone.
Akinremi explained, Passing information and communication in a way that your listener understands and relates with is not something that happens magically; there's a sequence to it, and that requires some basic media understanding and training, depending on which medium you have chosen to be a pro at. She also warned against the expectation of instant fame in the industry, stressing that long-term recognition is built on consistent impact and professional credibility rather than fleeting popularity.
Practical Sessions and Industry Insights
The conference featured a series of panel discussions and practical sessions tailored to equip participants with industry-relevant skills, including:
- Radio Presentation Techniques
- Voice-Over Training
- Creative Writing and Script Development for Radio and Television Programming
One panel, led by Sesan Adeniji, General Manager of Vybz 94.5FM Lagos, explored recruitment expectations within media organizations and addressed the perception that opportunities in the Lagos broadcasting market are limited. Additionally, insights on professional standards and ethical conduct were shared by notable figures such as BBC-Emmy nominated journalist Peter MacJob and veteran broadcast journalist Regina Uren Chris-Ogbodo, who also serves as a public speaking coach, diction expert, public relations specialist, and compere.
These experts stressed the importance of discipline, credibility, and audience engagement in building a reputable broadcasting career, reinforcing the conference's core message that mentorship and continuous learning are indispensable for lasting success in Nigeria's dynamic media landscape.
