Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigeria indigenous energy company, has taken its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to Imo State and empowered the media with knowledge and tools for professional growth.
It was a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists in Imo State under the theme, ‘Seplat Media Partners Programme: Career and Capacity Development’.
The training, which was held in Owerri, brought together 25 journalists from both print and electronic media houses across the state for an intensive learning experience, designed to enhance communication, writing, and digital storytelling skills.
In his opening remarks on behalf of Chioma Afe, director, External Affairs and Social Performance, Stanley Opara, manager, Corporate Communications, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to nurturing media partnerships that promote transparency, accountability, and national development, and emphasised Seplat Energy’s role in supporting journalists to adapt to the fast-evolving digital and technological landscape.
Opara said, “We consider excellence as cardinal in everything we do. The critical role of the media in shaping narratives and culture makes it very important to embed global best practice in its delivery. This is what we need to drive development in Nigeria, and Seplat Energy is well aligned on this.”
Emmanuel Otokhine, Base manager, Eastern Assets, encouraged journalists to make the most of the training and capacity-building opportunity, advising them to remain spontaneous, adaptable, and open to exploring career prospects that leverage their transferable skills.
The workshop featured insightful sessions led by Solomon Avbioroko, a facilitator, who explored the psychology of communication, professional interaction, and the importance of self-awareness in journalism.
To this, participants engaged in interactive exercises and assessments that deepened their understanding of effective storytelling and newsroom productivity.
While Nnamdi Uwaemelulam, also a facilitator, and media expert who in the first session, handled the practical modules on report writing and mobile video journalism (MOJO), introduced participants to the art of creating impactful stories using smartphones, from framing and lighting to mobile editing.
In his second session, ‘Media Transformation and Emerging Opportunities’, he examined how digital disruption is reshaping the industry and opened participants’ eyes to new opportunities in media entrepreneurship and content creation.
Abiola Adedeji, another facilitator, guided participants through ‘Understanding Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy’, and highlighted how data-driven storytelling and analytics can amplify journalistic impact across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Meanwhile, the participating media practitioners had the experience as both practical and transformative, commended Seplat Energy for its sustained investment in human capital development.
He noted that the Seplat Energy initiative once again underscored its belief that skilled and informed media remained critical to driving sustainable national development and shaping positive public discourse.
