A career in public relations is a communication discipline that enables one to study communication forms and their application to promotional values. Public relations practitioners are strategic communicators whose goal is to create brand awareness in a disciplined and systematic fashion. As a public relations specialist, you have the responsibility of promoting a brand and protecting it.

A career in public relations requires you to get acquainted with the skills such as Sales and marketing, liaison skills and most importantly, communication skills. This career path has great potential and it’s a relatively new profession compared to other media-related careers.

I will walk you through the details of this profession and how to venture into it.

Steps to Start a Career in Public Relations

1. Obtain an O’level Degree

   You must be a commercial student for you to study Public relations at a University in Nigeria. Additionally, you are required to have at least five credits in subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Economics, Commerce, Accounting, Government, CRS, and a trade subject. This applies to NECO, WAEC, or NABTEB.

2. Register and write the JAMB Examination

   You must register for subjects such as the Use of English, Economics, Mathematics and Government. Additionally, you must score at least 200 and above to stand a chance of getting admitted. You should also sit for the Post UME as it is a factor in getting admission too.

3. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree

   You need a bachelor’s degree to start a carer in public relations. You should apply to Universities that are accredited to study either public relations, journalism, mass communication or marketing. After four years of theoretical and experimental study, you will obtain a Bachelor’s degree in your course of study.

4. Gain Practical Experience

   You must apply for internships and attend practical training in the field of public relations. This will enable you to have real-world experience of what the public relations career entails.

5. Get a Mentor

   Having a mentor is a wise decision to make while embarking on any career path, especially public relations. This can help you avoid mistakes, give you the right guidance and open you up to opportunities.

6. Develop Public Relations Skills

   There are basic skills a public relations specialist should have. They include Communication, Social media, research, writing, time management, and creativity. You should work on developing these skills as they will keep you at the top pyramid in your career.

7. Commit to Continuous Learning:

   Public relations is a versatile field that can enable you to work with different sectors in several situations. And these opportunities will provide you with opportunities that require you to keep learning.

8. Keep Up with Industry Trends

   As a public relations professional, you need to be updated with all that goes on in your niche as well as what is going on in the wider industry. You should regularly follow publications to stay current with new trends.

9. Join a Professional Association

   This will give you access to opportunities in your field, access to senior colleagues, and growth opportunities. You can register with The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN).

Careers in Public Relations

The career opportunities you can venture into with a public relations degree include;

1. Content Creation
2. Social Media Manager
3. Community Relations Director
4. Publicists
5. Media Relations Manager
6. Reputation Manager
7. Crisis Manager etc.

Universities in Nigeria that Offer Public Relations

1. University of Ibadan
2. Covenant University
3. University of Nigeria
4. Obafemi Awolow University
5. University of Lagos
6. Nnamdi Azikiwe University
7. University of Calabar
8. Pan-Atlantic University
9. University of Ilorin
10. Delta State University
11. Babcock University
12. Lagos State University
13. Ambrose Alli University
14. University of Abuja
15. Bayero University
16. Osun State University
17. Enugu State University of Science and Technology
18. Rivers State University
19. Abia State University

Salary of Public Relations Specialist in Nigeria

The average salary of a public relations specialist in Nigeria ranges from N35,000 to N150,000 monthly. This may be higher or lower, depending on the level of experience and the particular job role you are performing.

A career in public relations comes with so much learning opportunities. One of the uniqueness of this job is that it allows one to perform different responsibilities in different sectors giving you a learning opportunity. Additionally, it offers well-paid opportunities as well as the ability to leverage your creativity skills. To become a successful public relations specialist, you should focus on getting the right knowledge and developing relevant skills.

Good luck.

Click to discover an extensive list of local and international schools offering courses and programs in various career path