By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
SEPLAT Energy Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Nigerian media landscape by training 35 journalists from prominent news organisations in Edo and Delta states.
The two-day capacity-building programme, held on 26 and 27 November 2025 in Benin City, delivered transformative sessions on newsroom innovation, leadership, digital storytelling, and work-life effectiveness.
The Seplat Media Partners Programme opened at the Rockview Homeville Hotel with a welcome address by Seplat Media Consultant, Mr Daniel Aibangbe, who thanked participants for their dedication and described the initiative as part of Seplat Energy’s sustained investment in media development.
He emphasised the company’s commitment to equipping journalists with modern tools and fostering stronger collaboration “as the year 2025 winds down”.
Also commending the participants, Mr Stanley Okpara saluted journalists from Edo, Delta, Sapele, and Warri for their unwavering commitment to professional excellence.
Day One: Fundamentals, Leadership, And Professional Conduct
The first day featured a blend of foundational and advanced media training sessions.
Renowned media professional, Mr Nnamdi Uwaemelulam, led journalists through the essentials of news writing and reporting, stressing the importance of applying the 5Ws and H to ensure clarity and accuracy in every story. His lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session that deepened participants’ engagement.
Complementing this was a thought-provoking presentation by Dr Solomon Avbioroko, a retired Coca-Cola executive, who spoke on leadership, personal organisation, and effective conduct.
He emphasised humility, loyalty, and self-discipline as key attributes for professional and personal success, urging journalists to represent their organisations with integrity wherever they go.
Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to network during scheduled breaks and a group photograph involving trainers and organisers.
Day Two: Digital Transformation, MOJO Skills, and Personal Effectiveness
The second day shifted focus to digital innovation, particularly the rise of Mobile Video Journalism (MOJO).
In his session, Mr Uwaemelulam encouraged journalists to integrate videos and social media into their storytelling, highlighting MOJO as convenient, cost-effective, and creatively liberating. He reminded participants that modern journalists must be technologically skilled to thrive in the evolving media landscape.
“Writing is no longer enough; journalists must be tech-savvy,” he said, cautioning that “no story is as important as your life” while discussing ethical considerations.
Dr Avbioroko returned with a session on Personal Effectiveness and Work-Life Balance, urging journalists to manage their time wisely, maintain to-do lists, and prepare proactively for retirement. He stressed that effective people are “opportunity-minded” and encouraged participants to invest in continuous learning.
Digital marketing expert, Mr Patrick Oke, rounded off the sessions by teaching participants how to build personal brands and monetise content on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X.
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Participants React: ‘Eye-Opening’, ‘Mind-Blowing’, ‘Highly Impactful’
The programme drew enthusiastic reactions from participants, who described it as transformative and timely.
The correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Usman Aliyu, described the workshop as “eye-opening and life-changing”.
“The facilitators demonstrated a high sense of expertise with relatable examples. I can’t wait to apply the lessons from the sessions into my journalistic practice. It was so fascinating and insightful,” he said.
Rita Enemuru receiving her certificate of participation
Also speaking, publisher of Reliance Newspaper and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State, Mr Ralph Okhiria, said the training was “mind-blowing” and urged Seplat to continue investing in journalists.
“It is a mind-opening programme. I like how they taught journalists how to fish. I encourage that they hold it regularly, and the government should take a cue from it,” he stated, advising journalists to implement their learnings and avoid returning to stereotypes.
The correspondent of The Punch Newspaper in Warri, Dele Ogunyemi, described the sessions as “highly educative and quite impactful”, especially because they provided guidance on life after active newsroom service.
“It is packaged as a sort of pre-retirement training for media executives. It is believed that participants will put what they learnt into practice and secure for themselves a quality post-retirement life,” he said.
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The training, delivered by Eloh Consulting Limited, ended with the presentation of certificates to all participants.
Through this initiative, Seplat Energy continues to position itself at the forefront of media empowerment, equipping journalists with the innovation, discipline, and adaptability needed to excel in modern storytelling and future career transitions.
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