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The Role of Evangelism and Education in Fostering Healthy PR Measurement Culture
By Philip Odiakose
As the pioneer of public relations measurement in Nigeria, with over 15 years of professional experience, I have had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of PR measurement from a mere afterthought to an indispensable component of strategic communication. In this article, I delve deep into the pivotal role of evangelism and education in nurturing a healthy PR measurement culture within organizations.
The Evolution of PR Measurement
Gone are the days when PR success was solely measured by the number of press clippings or the reach of a media mention. Today, in the age of digitalization and data abundance, PR professionals have access to an array of sophisticated tools and metrics that enable them to quantify the impact of their efforts accurately. However, harnessing the full potential of PR measurement requires more than just technological prowess—it demands a cultural shift within organizations.
Evangelism: Championing the Cause of PR Measurement
At the heart of any successful PR measurement culture lies evangelism—the fervent advocacy for the adoption and integration of measurement practices into the fabric of an organization. As a Chief Media Analyst, I have learned that evangelism begins with instilling a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of data-driven decision-making.
Building Awareness and Understanding
One of the primary challenges in fostering a culture of PR measurement is dispelling the notion that PR is an intangible art form immune to quantification. Evangelism involves educating stakeholders at all levels about the tangible benefits of measurement, from informing strategic planning to demonstrating return on objectives (ROO) and investment (ROI), when applicable. By building awareness and understanding, evangelists lay the foundation for a receptive environment where PR measurement is valued and embraced.
Cultivating Advocates Across Departments
Evangelism extends beyond mere rhetoric—it entails cultivating advocates for PR measurement across marketing and communications departments and hierarchies. These advocates serve as catalysts for change, championing measurement initiatives within their respective teams and spearheading collaborative efforts to integrate measurement into everyday PR practices. By fostering a grassroots movement, evangelists ensure that the commitment to measurement is not imposed top-down but cultivated organically from within.
Aligning Objectives with Organizational Goals
A crucial aspect of evangelism is aligning individual and departmental objectives with overarching organizational goals. PR professionals must understand how their efforts contribute to broader business outcomes, whether it is enhancing brand reputation, driving lead generation, or supporting crisis management efforts. By emphasizing the direct correlation between PR activities and organizational success, evangelists inspire alignment and commitment towards measurement objectives.
Education: Empowering PR Professionals for Excellence
While evangelism ignites the spark of change, education fuels the flames of progress. As a Chief Media Analyst, I have recognized that education is paramount in equipping PR professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to execute effective measurement strategies.
Continuous Learning and Professional Development
In a rapidly evolving landscape, stagnant skills are a recipe for obsolescence. Continuous learning initiatives, including workshops, seminars, and online courses, play a pivotal role in keeping PR professionals abreast of emerging trends, methodologies, and technologies in PR measurement. By investing in professional development, organizations empower their teams to adapt to changing demands and leverage cutting-edge measurement practices effectively. One key learning hub for PR professionals is https://www.mateplus.com.ng/ the platform also delivers reliable PR measurement and evaluation resources, educational content, and learning solutions specially designed for the Nigerian communications and public relations industry to prove value, ROO (return on objective), and make better communication and PR decisions.
Mastery of Measurement Tools and Techniques
Effective PR measurement requires proficiency in a diverse array of tools and techniques, from media monitoring platforms to sentiment analysis algorithms. Education initiatives should prioritize hands-on training and skill development, enabling PR professionals to navigate these tools with confidence and extract meaningful insights from complex media data sets. By mastering measurement tools and techniques, PR professionals enhance the accuracy and reliability of their analyses, ultimately driving informed decision-making and actionable insights.
Cultivating a Data-Driven Mindset
Education transcends technical proficiency—it cultivates a fundamental mindset shift towards data-driven decision-making. PR professionals must learn to embrace data as a strategic asset, leveraging insights to optimize campaigns, mitigate risks, and capitalize on emerging opportunities. By instilling a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and evidence-based decision-making, education empowers PR professionals to unlock the full potential of PR measurement and drive measurable impact across the organization.
The Symbiotic Relationship: Evangelism and Education
In the quest to cultivate a healthy PR measurement culture, evangelism and education are not disparate endeavours but symbiotic forces working in tandem towards a common goal. Evangelism ignites the passion for change, fostering a shared belief in the value of PR measurement, while education equips PR professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to realize that vision.
Amplifying Impact Through Collaboration
When evangelism and education converge, the impact is amplified exponentially. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem where PR measurement consultants and PR professionals work hand-in-hand, organizations can accelerate the adoption of PR measurement practices and maximize their impact on business outcomes. Whether through cross-functional workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, or collaborative projects, synergistic efforts enable organizations to harness the full potential of PR measurement and drive sustainable growth.
Nurturing a Culture of Excellence
Ultimately, the goal of evangelism and education is to nurture a culture of excellence—a culture where PR measurement isn’t just a task but a mindset ingrained in the DNA of the organization. By fostering a shared commitment to measurement excellence, organizations empower their teams to transcend mediocrity and achieve greatness, driving continuous innovation, improvement, and value creation.
Conclusion: Embracing the Future of PR Measurement
As the PR landscape continues to evolve, organizations must adapt to the changing realities of the digital age. The era of guesswork and intuition is giving way to a new paradigm of data-driven decision-making, where insights reign supreme and outcomes are quantifiable. In this landscape, the importance of evangelism and education for nurturing a healthy PR measurement culture cannot be overstated. By championing the cause of PR measurement and equipping PR professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel, organizations can navigate the complexities of the modern PR landscape with confidence, agility, and foresight. As a pioneer of PR measurement in Nigeria, I remain steadfast in my commitment to advancing the principles of evangelism and education, driving transformational change, and shaping the future of PR measurement for generations to come.
Philip Odiakose is the Chief Media Analyst and Managing Consultant at P+ Measurement Services and TMKG Consulting, members of the Media Monitoring and Audit Group (MMAG). Both agencies are members of AMEC and PAMRO.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To make finding the right service provider or reaching the right customer seamless, popular local information portal, Connect Nigeria, has introduced a Quote Request platform.
Connect Nigeria described the new system as “a digital solution designed to make connecting with service providers faster, easier, and more reliable.”
It said the Quote Request was built for consumers who need services quickly and want trusted options without the stress of searching endlessly; and service providers and businesses looking for real, high-intent customers without spending heavily on marketing.
“Whether you need a caterer for an event, a plumber for your home, or a designer for your brand, the platform is designed to connect you with the right people,” Connect Nigeria added.
“By connecting demand directly with supply, the platform creates a more structured and dependable marketplace,” it further stated.
At its core, the Quote Request simplifies the entire process of finding and offering services.
To use the service, users have to submit a request describing the service or product needed, which is then sent to verified vendors on the platform. Interested providers respond within 1–2 days, and users compare offers and choose what works best for their needs and budget.
“Instead of searching for vendors, the vendors come to you, with relevant, tailored responses,” Connect Nigeria explained.
The company expects this new platform to eliminate the stress of endless online searches, delayed or vague responses, and uncertainty about service quality.
As for businesses, it solves poor visibility, inconsistent customer flow, and lost opportunities due to slow response times.
Connect Nigeria Quote Request mobile app is now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An institutional investor, First Ally Capital, has strengthened a leading Nigerian financial technology company, Mathesis Analytics, to scale its proprietary credit decisioning infrastructure.
It made this possible by injecting fresh capital into the firm, which specialises in AI-powered credit decisioning infrastructure, an action that will directly support the growth and scaling of Mathesis’ core mission of providing the intelligence and infrastructure needed to bridge the credit gap for millions of unscored or underscored individuals across Nigeria.
With this investment, Mathesis will enable financial institutions to confidently assess and extend credit to borrowers who lack a formal credit history by leveraging an expanded pool of alternative behavioural and transactional data.
To date, Mathesis’ systems have supported more than 8 million loans for over 2 million unique borrowers in Nigeria, and the company is actively deploying its infrastructure to establish a growing pan-African footprint.
With the investment from First Ally Capital, Mathesis is well positioned to transform how the credit ecosystem operates, driving financial inclusion in partnership with lenders across the continent.
A significant barrier to credit access in Nigeria, which prides itself on being Africa’s largest economy, is data fragmentation. Borrowers frequently build positive financial behaviours across multiple digital platforms by repaying microfinance loans, saving through fintech wallets, or servicing Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) facilities.
However, under traditional credit infrastructure, these achievements remain invisible to new lenders.
Mathesis addresses this challenge through the concept of Personal Equity—the quantified expression of an individual’s financial behaviour aggregated across every institution with which they have transacted.
By translating these disparate signals into a precise, portable measure of creditworthiness, Mathesis creates a comprehensive credit identity that reflects the full breadth of a person’s financial life.
“True financial inclusion cannot be achieved in a vacuum; it requires structural collaboration in which lenders and fintech companies work as partners within the ecosystem.
“This investment from First Ally Capital validates our approach to reshaping credit infrastructure. By quantifying Personal Equity, we empower lenders to safely look beyond the constraints of formal credit histories and recognise a borrower’s true creditworthiness. This capital enables us to accelerate our pan-African expansion while maintaining the robust, institutional-grade infrastructure our partners rely on,” the chief executive of Mathesis Analytics, Winston Osuchukwu, stated.
On his part, the chief executive of First Ally Capital, Mr Ebenezer Olufowose, said, “At First Ally Capital, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop destination for financial solutions, offering a diverse portfolio of services ranging from investment banking and asset management to trusteeship, inclusive banking, and real estate.
“Our investment in Mathesis Analytics reflects our strong belief in the company’s vision and our commitment to supporting forward-thinking enterprises that deliver excellence.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Canal+ Africa, Mr David Mignot, has disclosed that MultiChoice is now fully integrated into the media group.
Mr Mignot disclosed this via a statement issued on Thursday, noting that this development marks a new phase in the evolution of one of Africa’s leading pay television operators.
He noted that the integration positions MultiChoice within a global media organisation with an extensive international footprint.
“MultiChoice is now a full subsidiary of a truly international media group operating in 70 countries. The group was founded in France, is listed in London and Johannesburg, and has a strong African presence with operations in more than 45 countries,” Mr Mignot said.
The statement underscores the scale of the combined business, highlighting Canal+’s global reach alongside its significant investments across Africa.
The completion of the transaction is expected to strengthen MultiChoice’s position in the African media and entertainment market by giving it access to the broader resources, expertise and international capabilities of the Canal+ Group, while reinforcing the group’s commitment to the continent.
MultiChoice operates across sub-Saharan Africa through platforms including DStv and GOtv, serving millions of subscribers with entertainment, sports and news content.
