Obtaining a master degree from one of UKs top 20 universities looked impossible for Kunle Kalejaye prior COVID-19 pandemic. Infact it has never occurred to him to pursue one at the time.
However, come Friday July 21, 2023, he will be awarded a Masters Degree in Public Relations and Strategic Communication from Leeds Beckett University. He shares his story Daily Trust on his journey in obtaining.
Tell us about career path
I studied mass communication (Radio and Television Broadcasting) in Lagos State University (School of Communication). Graduated in 2009, then went for my youth service in 2010 and started working with Vanguard newspaper in 2011, covering Energy beat. As student of mass communication, I had done my internship with Minaj Broadcasting International (MBI) Business Desk, Africa Independent Television, (AIT) Library and Program Department, and Nigerian Television Authority, NTA Victoria Island Lagos Library department.
In 2014, I left Vanguard newspaper to join SweetCrude Report, a specialised online newspaper that focuses on the energy sector across the world. About three years I switched to corporate communications with a private company, LADOL Free Zone where I resumed as Public Relations and Marketing Officer.
Within two years, I got promoted to Senior Public Relations and Marketing Officer. In 2020, COVID stroke and my line management left. Her resignation left a void and I had to step in as Acting Manager.
How did COVID reshaped your career?
While discharging my duties in acting capacity, I knew it was time to upgrade my skills in public relations and corporate communications. I made an application to one of Nigeria’s top university during the lockdown. However, the institution had internal issues, hence we had to wait for the issue to be resolved before we could proceed further with our applications.
At what point did studying in UK came about?
The publisher and editor-in-chief of SweetCrude Reports, Hector Igbikioubo had just returned from a trip to the US in early 2021. As a tradition, I will visit to welcome him. On this day I went to visit and we discussed about politics, journalism and general issues.
As I was about to live, we had the following conversation:
Me: Editor, I have decided to pursue my masters degree!
Editor: Wow! Big congratulations!
Me: Thank you editor!
Editor: So what school did you apply for?
Me: Unilag
Editor: (Silent for a while then he continued) why not try UK.
Me: UK??? But I haven’t thought about that and besides the exchange rate of Naira to pound is high.
Editor: Why not ask Michael Eboh. He is currently in the UK for his master program.
Me: Okay editor, I will ask him and keep you updated.
That simple conversation, advice and motivation from Mr. Hector Igbikioubo led to my obtaining a master degree in the UK.
His words of advice were all I needed to believe that the impossible is possible. I doubted at first but each steps led to the reality.
There are mentor who guides mentee with spoken words of assurance to instill confidence, believe. Mr Hector Igbikioubo is one of them
