Anietie Udoh inspires Caleb University undergraduates on personal branding, career growth

Michael Olumide

Students of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, have been encouraged to deliberately build personal brands rooted in integrity, competence and consistency as a foundation for long-term career success.

The charge was given by Anietie Udoh, Divisional Director of Marketing at Marketing Edge Magazine, during a programme themed “A Brand Called You: Be You, Be the Brand, Own Your Identity,” held on Thursday at the College of Communication and Media Studies of Caleb University.

The event, organised by 400-Level Public Relations and Advertising students, brought together academics, communications professionals and industry leaders to expose students to the importance of personal branding, professional identity and career development. It also featured a panel discussion and interactive interview session where speakers shared their experiences of resilience, perseverance and professional growth.

Addressing the students, Udoh described personal branding as far more than appearance or social media popularity, explaining that it is the reputation people build through consistent actions, values and character.

According to him, a personal brand is the impression people form through every interaction, and the promise individuals consistently keep throughout their personal and professional lives.

“A brand is the feeling people get when they encounter you. It is the promise you consistently keep, your reputation built one interaction at a time, and what people say about you when you leave the room,” he said.

Udoh urged the students to remain intentional in shaping how they are perceived, stressing that clarity of purpose, consistency and courage are essential ingredients for building a lasting reputation.

Drawing inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and professionals, he cited Aliko Dangote as an example of how focus, discipline and long-term commitment can build a globally respected brand.

He also reflected on his own professional journey in the marketing and communications industry, revealing that some of the biggest setbacks he experienced—including rejected business proposals and the loss of a major client—eventually became defining moments that strengthened his career.

“The things that almost broke me are the things that built my brand. Every setback forced me to reinvent myself and discover my unique voice,” Udoh told the audience.

He encouraged the students not to be discouraged by temporary disappointments, pointing to the achievements of Burna Boy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as examples of individuals who transformed rejection into global recognition through resilience, authenticity and perseverance.

Udoh further advised participants to define themselves before society does, explaining that every strong personal brand rests on three critical pillars—values, voice and visual identity.

He stressed the importance of maintaining a professional image both offline and online, particularly on platforms such as LinkedIn, which he described as today’s digital first impression for employers and business partners.

“Our generation has no excuse for remaining invisible. Build your reputation before you need it. Be intentional about the value you create because your brand is your greatest career asset,” he said.

Other speakers at the event included Associate Professor Kayode Okunade, Dean of the College of Communication and Media Studies; Sunday Ogbonna, Head of the Department of Mass Communication; Ayisha Olanrewaju, Chief Executive Officer of Corporately Lucid; Sunday Ayetutu, Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos Chapter; and Bishop Odukoya of Acceler8ed Marketing.

The speakers collectively encouraged students to embrace leadership, continuous learning and self-development while preparing for careers in the communication and media industry.

The programme concluded with a renewed call on students to take ownership of their identities, build reputations anchored on excellence and position themselves for opportunities in an increasingly competitive professional environment.