By BANNERNEWS Reporter
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, has concluded a five-day intensive training on public speaking and event compering for youths of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star (BCS), urging participants to overcome fear and speak with confidence.
Facilitating the programme, Uduakikang Obeten Okorn, Director of News and Current Affairs at the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC), Calabar, described public speaking as a vital life skill that can be learned and perfected. She warned against “developing butterflies in your stomach” when facing an audience, noting that many people experience anxiety symptoms such as palpitations, cold shivers, weak limbs, and stuttering.
Okorn stressed that structured training and consistent practice help conquer these fears. “Public speaking is not about perfection but authenticity and connection,” she said, drawing from experts including Dale Carnegie, Gary Vaynerchuk, Dananjaya Hettiarachchi, Chris Anderson, Nancy Duarte, and Amy Cuddy.
The training exposed participants to practical exercises such as compering events, delivering wedding toasts and eulogies, debating, presenting business proposals, giving lectures, keynote addresses, and sermons. Key focus areas included confidence building, audience engagement, speech structure, storytelling, and stage presence.
Her Eminence Grace-Magdalene Arikpo, International Mother and National Coordinator of BCS IMOCAMBO, encouraged trainees to apply their skills responsibly in daily life, emphasizing that effective communication is a tool for service to humanity. NUJ Cross River State Council Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey, described the initiative as a commitment to youth empowerment, leadership development, and civic engagement.
The programme concluded with blessings and prayers from His Holiness, Olumba Olumba Obu, spiritual leader of BCS, who urged trainees to use their newly acquired skills to positively impact society. Certificates of participation were presented to the participants, including Gladys Bassey, Crownson Ayara, Ekeng Kingsley, Gold Arikpo, and Favour Augustine Eteng, marking the successful completion of the workshop.
