The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Lagos State Chapter) successfully held its May 2026 Monthly Meeting/PR Clinic virtually on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in a knowledge-rich session powered by the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN).
The session, themed “Starting and Running a PR Firm from Ground Zero,” provided practical guidance for communication professionals seeking to transition into entrepreneurship within Nigeria’s evolving public relations industry.
The clinic was facilitated by Hassan Abdul, mnipr, arpa, Lead Consultant/CEO of Drawbridge CM Limited and General Secretary of PRCAN, who drew from over two decades of experience in communication management and consultancy practice.
He shared personal insights from his entrepreneurial journey, including his decision to establish his firm in 2008 while still in paid employment. He advised participants to adopt a gradual and structured transition into business ownership to reduce financial and operational risks, stressing that building a PR consultancy is “a marathon, not a sprint.”
A key focus of his presentation was the distinction between being a skilled PR practitioner and becoming an effective business owner. He noted that while many professionals possess strong technical competencies, they often struggle with the demands of running a structured organisation.
He therefore urged participants to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset, shifting focus from day-to-day execution to strategic responsibilities such as business development, financial management, client acquisition, and organisational leadership.
According to him, PR entrepreneurs must regularly assess how they spend their time and deliberately evolve from “service providers” into “business leaders” capable of building systems and driving sustainable growth.
On positioning, Hassan Abdul emphasised the importance of niche definition and market clarity, advising PR professionals to identify specific client needs and position their firms as strategic partners that solve real business challenges for corporate organisations in a competitive B2B environment.
He also outlined key operational foundations for sustainable practice, including the need to:
- Engage competent finance professionals
- Define organisational culture early
- Ensure regulatory and legal compliance
- Use proper contracts and agreements
- Invest in technology and systems
- Maintain professional indemnity insurance
- Build a financial runway capable of sustaining operations for at least six months
He cautioned against over-reliance on friendship-based discounts, noting that sustainable PR firms are built on value delivery, professionalism, and paying clients, not informal relationships.
A practical highlight of the session was the introduction of a 90-day roadmap for launching and stabilising a PR consultancy, covering business registration, financial setup, systems development, team building, brand positioning, networking strategies, and securing retainer clients.
During the interactive session, participants also discussed PRCAN membership structure and industry opportunities. Hassan Abdul clarified the distinction between individual and corporate membership categories while encouraging practitioners to actively engage in professional associations for visibility, learning, and growth.
In his closing reflections, he reiterated that success in PR entrepreneurship requires discipline, strategic thinking, financial prudence, systems development, and continuous learning.
The session was widely described as practical and transformative, equipping participants with real-world insights into building and sustaining PR consultancies in Nigeria’s dynamic communications landscape.
