Group 9 Emerges Winner as OSPOLY Strategic Communication Students Hold PR, Advertising Pitch-a-Thon
By Samuel Akintola
Group 9 emerged as the overall winner of the Public Relations and Advertising Pitch-a-Thon organized by the Department of Strategic Communication under Mass Communication, Osun State Polytechnic (OSPOLY), Iree.
The event, which was held on April 2, 2026, at the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH 2), brought together all HND II Strategic Communication students, who showcased their creativity by presenting and promoting different products and representing organizations in a competitive pitching exercise.
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| Group 9 representatives. |
The programme was designed to test students’ practical skills in advertising, branding, and public relations, with emphasis on real-world application beyond campus activities.
Speaking during the event, one of the judges, Mr. Akinola Ridwan, expressed concern over the performance of some students, stressing that many failed to fully understand the concept of pitching. “You don’t know your worth,” he said.
“What you are doing here is what professionals are paid for. A pitch is not a read-a-thon — it’s about convincing your audience, to have interest in either your product or company.”
He corrected participants who relied heavily on reading scripts, without showing it and those using their phones, instead of engaging the audience with confidence and creativity.
Also speaking, Mr. Sikiru Adekunle (Abacus) explained that the judging criteria were based on appearance, teamwork, confidence, use of AI, time management, and originality, noting that the exercise was structured to reflect industry standards.
In an interview with the course lecturer and initiator of the programme, Dr. Adeagbo Aderemi, explained that the pitch-a-thon was introduced to expose students to the practical realities of advertising and strategic communication, to know their strengths and weaknesses so as to work on them.
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| Dr. Aderemi Adeagbo. |
According to him, "This programme is about what you can do — your ability to think, create, and promote ideas effectively. It is not just theory.”
He also highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing it as a useful tool that must be properly guided and used.
"AI is a blessing, but it cannot function on its own. Human input is still very important. Students should use it, but not rely on it completely,” he added.
Dr. Aderemi further appreciated the Head of Department, Dr. Idowu Akinrosoye, and the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Tope Abiola, for their support in making the programme a success, noting that it is the first edition and more are expected in the future.
Other lecturers present at the event included Mr. Olayinka, Mr. Adewunmi, Mr. Sikiru Adekunle, Mr. Akinola Ridwan, and Dr. Adeagbo Aderemi, alongside the audience.
Here are the Final Results (Positions)
1st — Group 9
2nd — Group 5
3rd — Group 12 & Group 13 (having the same score)
5th — Group 6
6th — Group 8 & Group 10 (having the same score)
8th — Group 11
9th — Group 4
10th — Group 7
11th — Group 2
12th — Group 3
13th — Group 1
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| Grade sheet. |
The event ended with the announcement of the winners, as students, judges, and lecturers acknowledged the importance of practical exposure in preparing students for the competitive media and communication industry.
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