Stress Management and Virtual Assistance: Keys to Triumphant Business Management

A stressed CEO leaning close to her laptop in frustration.

Stress management is defined as the tools, strategies, or techniques that reduce stress and the negative impacts it has on your mental or physical well-being. Before we commence, ask yourself what is the meaning of stress and virtual Assistant? In connection to stress management, WHO, defined stress as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. In fact, your body is designed to experience stress and react to it. When you experience changes or challenges, your body produces physical and mental responses. That’s stress. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. However, our response to stress management makes a big difference in our overall well-being. Ways of stress management ranges from walking, meditation, evaluating priorities, positive self-talk and so on. We shall quickly dive into the three kinds of stress which are: Acute, episodic acute and chronic, but before we do that, are you still wondering, “what is the connection between stress and Virtual Assistance.” Before I talk about virtual assistance, lets quickly dive into defining types of stress. Acute stress is a short-term stress that comes and goes quicky. It can be positive or negative. It is a feeling you get when you are solving a hard puzzle or having a fight with your spouse. Everyone experiences acute stress occasionally. Episodic acute stress is a feeling that kicks in when you experience acute stress on a regular basis. With this of stress, you don’t ever get the time you need to a calm or relaxed state. Episodic stress frequently affects people working in certain professions, like healthcare providers, entrepreneurs among others. Chronic stress: Chronic stress is long-term stress that goes on for weeks or months. You may experience chronic stress due to marital ups and downs, challenges at work or financial matters. It is imperative to find ways to manage chronic stress because it can lead to health issues. Virtual assistance, also known as virtual support or remote assistance, involves hiring professionals to handle various administrative and technical tasks remotely.  A virtual assistant can be referred to as a self-employed worker, either a freelancer or an independent contractor who undertakes the administrative marketing or business tasks that suck up valuable time you could be spending focusing on your business growth. Sometimes also known as Virtual administrative assistants or executive assistants, they can help you with just a few tasks per month or be highly involved in your business’s day – to – day activities. Virtual assistants may be experts in specific fields or certain types of tasks such as accounting or marketing or may offer broader, more generalized assistant services. There are many tasks undertaken by Virtual assistants. To mention a few, they conduct online research, manage your email inbox and calendar, schedule and manage your social media, offer IT support, conduct administrative tasks, help with customer service, conduct marketing analysis, help with time management, take phone calls and reach out to potential clients. You may be asking, what is the relationship between stress and virtual assistance? Before we move further, lets quickly trash out “stress” and its effects on our overall well-being. As much as stress management is key, you need to know that stress affects both the mind and the body. A little bit of stress is beneficial as it helps us perform our daily activities, but excessive stress can cause physical and mental health damage. Learning how to cope with stress can help us feel less overwhelmed and support our mental and physical well-being. Are you exhausted from an overwhelming workload? Are you hesitating because you lack the time to find an assistant to handle your company’s administrative and technical tasks at your office backend? Are you struggling to relax and experiencing turbulent emotions such as anxiety and irritability? Is it becoming harder for you to concentrate, sleep well, or maintain a healthy appetite? There is a saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Another one says, “Take care of your body; it’s the only place you have to live.” Health is wealth, dear CEO. The signs mentioned above indicate stress, which can harm your productivity and happiness. Seek help so you can fully enjoy the benefits of your business. TRW offers virtual assistance services to help business magnates stay focused and manage stress effectively. Our services are affordable, and we have virtual assistants who can work flexible hours to adapt to your schedule. We provide specialized skills tailored to your needs. Furthermore, TRW helps brands increase productivity and reduce stress by offering administrative support, customer support, social media management, content creation, bookkeeping, and more. Driving the success of your brand brings us joy more than anything else. You can visit our website for more information. Keep in mind that virtual assistance can be a game-changer for business owners looking to reduce stress, streamline operations, and boost productivity. Is there a specific task you’re considering outsourcing? Reach out to us today! you can also read: How a Positive Living Space Can Boost Your Mental Health: The Link Between Environment and Well-Being.              

Content Marketing: The Secret Tool for Driving Sales Like a Pro

Content Marketing The Secret Tool For Driving Sales Like a Pro

Content marketing is a powerful strategy used to attract, engage, and retain customers by creating and sharing valuable content. Instead of bombarding your audience with direct sales messages, you provide them with useful information whether through articles, videos, podcasts, or infographics that meets their needs. By doing this, you build trust, establish authority, and nurture customer relationships, ultimately leading to more sales. But how exactly does content marketing drive revenue? Let’s break it down with a simple example. Imagine you own a skincare brand. Instead of only posting ads about your products, you create content on “How to Identify Your Skin Type” or “The Best Skincare Routine for Oily Skin”. These topics are valuable to people actively looking for skincare solutions. If someone is searching for skincare advice, stumbles upon your content, reads your post, and finds it helpful. Over time, they begin to trust your brand as a go-to resource for skincare tips. When it’s time to buy skincare products, guess who they’ll turn to? You! Why Content Marketing is More Effective Than Traditional Selling Let’s say you’re in the market for a new phone. You walk into two different stores: Seller A just says, “Buy from me.” Seller B educates you on how to differentiate between fake and original phones, explains the best models for your budget, and even offers tips on maintaining your phone’s battery life. Who would you trust more? Most likely Seller B, because they provided value before making a sales pitch. This is exactly how content marketing works. It builds trust, positions you as an expert, and naturally leads customers to buy from you. The Key Benefits of Content Marketing include: It boosts customer trust and loyalty Providing valuable content helps you connect with your audience. When customers see you as a helpful resource rather than just another seller, they are more likely to choose your brand repeatedly. It establishes you as an industry leader The more helpful and educational your content is, the more credibility your business gains. When people trust your expertise, they are more likely to refer others to your brand. It increases organic traffic through SEO Well-optimized content helps your brand rank higher on Google, making it easier for potential customers to find you. If someone searches for “best skincare routine”, and your article appears on the first page, you get free traffic and potential buyers without spending money on ads.  It generates quality leads and sales Unlike traditional ads that often get ignored, content marketing attracts people who are already interested in what you offer. By educating them first, you warm up potential buyers, making them more likely to purchase. It strengthens customer relationships Content marketing isn’t just about acquiring new customers, it’s about keeping them. Regularly providing valuable content keeps your audience engaged, making them more likely to stay loyal to your brand. Now, you know the benefits, what are the ways to effectively use content marketing to drive sales? 1. Understand Your Audience : Research what your potential customers are searching for online and create content that answers their questions. 2. Create High-Quality, Engaging Content Your content should be valuable, well-structured, and easy to read. 3. Use SEO Strategies : Optimize your content with relevant keywords (like “content marketing”) to improve search rankings. 4. Leverage Multiple Formats – Blog posts, videos, infographics, and social media content all work together to engage your audience. 5. Have a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA) : At the end of every content piece, guide readers on the next step whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, booking a consultation, or making a purchase. Ready to Attract More Customers with Content Marketing? Let the Experts Handle It! Creating high-quality, sales-driven content requires skill, strategy, and consistency. If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level but don’t know where to start, TRW Consult can help! At TRW Consult, our team of expert content marketers specializes in crafting engaging, SEO-optimized content that: ✅ Positions your brand as an industry leader ✅ Attracts the right audience ✅ Converts readers into paying customers We’ve helped businesses grow their revenue through powerful storytelling and smart content strategies. Are you next? 📩 Book a FREE strategy call today and let’s build a content plan that works for you! Also Read: Editing Tips To Improve Your Business Writing 

Top 10 Highest Paying Tech Jobs in 2025

Top 10 Highest Paying Tech Jobs in 2025

The technology industry is definitely one of the largest and fastest growing industries out there. Careers in technology spread across the landscape of the global economy from software engineers building both small and large applications that enable us interact and do business better to designers who ensure users enjoy not just a sleek and responsive interface but also have a great experience using each product, to product managers who are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that every product meet the need of the customer and make a great ROI. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the United States of America, employment in the IT field is projected to grow 11% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. There are several benefits that abound in having a career in the tech industry and a high salary is one of them. As mentioned earlier, you can choose from several exciting options in the technology field, such as Software engineering, Project management, DevOp, Data Science, AI & ML, etc. You can have a career in technology in many different places, such as fast-paced startups, innovative tech companies, and small IT departments. In this article, I cover the top 10 high-paying careers in the technology industry. If you are giving your career some consideration to make sure you are future-proofing your skillset or perhaps moving into a new field altogether, I urge you to read on. So What Jobs Are These? Principal Software Engineer In an administrative job reporting to upper management, the role of a software engineering manager is to supervise and guide the work of other software engineers on projects, including the design and development of software, programs, and applications. A software engineering manager generally needs at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or programming, as well as several years of experience in a role or industry closely related. In addition, they must be skilled in programming languages and programs to contribute individually.  A principal software engineer earns an average of $4500 annually in Nigeria. In the US, the average annual salary is about $244,500. The average annual salary in other countries are: Australia: over $161,000 Canada: over $165,000 Denmark: over $141,000 France: over €89,000 Germany: over €107,000 United Kingdom: over £116,000 Machine Learning Engineer A Machine Learning Engineer is saddled with the responsibilities of developing and deploying machine learning models to solve specific business or technical problems. They work with data scientists to build algorithms and integrate models into production systems. The average annual salary of a machine learning engineer is $206,000 Engineering Manager An Engineering Manager leads and mentors a team of engineers, ensuring the successful and timely delivery of projects. They coordinate resources, set technical direction, and align engineering efforts with company goals. On average, they earn an annual salary of $203,500 Software Engineer Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software systems and applications, ensuring that they are scalable, efficient, and aligned with user requirements. They work collaboratively with a cross-functional team to implement innovative solutions and solve technical queries. The software engineer earns an average of $186,500 annually. Data Scientist With an average annual salary of $183,000, a Data Scientist is responsible for analyzing complex data sets to uncover trends, generate insights, and build predictive models that drive business decisions. They use statistical analysis, machine learning, and data visualization techniques to solve real-world problems across various fields. Technical Program Manager Technical Program Managers (TPM) are responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing complex technical projects. They work across teams to manage timelines, mitigate risks, and ensure successful delivery of technical initiatives. On average, they earn an annual salary of $174,000 IT Manager The IT Manager wears on his back the responsibilities of overseeing an organization’s technology infrastructure, including hardware, software, and networks, and ensuring that the technology aligns with the organization’s goals and objectives. He earns an annual average of $169,510 Product Manager Product Managers are responsible for overseeing the development and lifecycle of a product, from concept to launch. They work with cross-functional teams to define product goals, prioritize features, and ensure the product meets customer needs and business objectives. On average, they earn $169,000 Product Designer A Product Designer is responsible for creating user-friendly and visually appealing designs for products and interfaces. They conduct user research, develop prototypes, and work closely with engineering and product teams to ensure a seamless user experience. A product designers earns an average of $155,500 Senior Data Analyst A Senior Data Analyst is responsible for interpreting data, generating actionable insights, and creating reports that support strategic decision-making. They lead data analysis projects, mentor junior analysts, and ensure the accuracy and integrity of data. The take annual average take home is $149,500 Where to Look for Best-Paying Jobs in Technology? There are a number of  places to look for the best-paying jobs in technology.  Online job boards – Companies often post job openings on these boards to find qualified candidates. Tech conventions – At these conventions, companies will often have booths set up where they will be recruiting for open positions. Personal connections-  people already in the tech industry will know of open positions and can put in a good word for qualified candidates.

Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Courses And Certifications That Will Boost Your Career And Business in 2025

Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Courses And Certifications That Will Boost Your Career And Business in 2025 (1)

With the rise in Artificial Intelligence across the landscape of the world and the disruption it brings to almost every aspect of human life, no one wants to miss out on the trend. But a trend? I don’t think so Artificial Intelligence is now beyond just another trend, as trends fade away after a certain- short or extended period of time. But AI, just like the internet was introduced and blew up in the early 1900s and has been a part of human existence till tomorrow, so also artificial intelligence is gradually becoming a significant part of our existence as humans in this civilization which is here to stay. Its significance is extremely powerful as it is on track to be the key technology that enables business transformation and gives companies a competitive edge. AI can help businesses be more productive by automating their processes, which includes using robotics and autonomous vehicles. It can also help by supporting their existing workforces with AI technologies such as assisted and augmented intelligence. Most organizations are working to implement AI in their business processes and products. Organizations are using AI in various business applications, including finance, marketing, healthcare, smart home devices, retail, fraud detection and security surveillance. With this bird’s eye view of the significance of Artificial Intelligence, it is very expedient that as a career professional and or a business individual or an entrepreneur who wants to continually stay on the crux of their journey, you should have a definite, whether basic or in depth knowledge of this whole new world. But why’s a certification in AI important? It is important for various reasons including: Taking a course and getting certified in AI can set an individual on a trajectory of a successful and adventurous career. There are constant changes in the field of AI, and it can be a challenge to keep up with that pace of change. A certification would inform anyone you are familiar with the latest developments in the field A certification in AI can set you apart from the competition and reveal to employers that you have the skills they want and need AI demands advanced education. A National University examination of 15,000 job postings on Indeed.com found that nearly 80% of AI job openings require candidates to have a master’s degree, while 60% demanded at least a bachelor’s degree. Another 18% required a PhD, while only 8% would consider a high school diploma.   So here are the Top 5 AI Courses and Certifications IBM Applied AI Professional Certificate by Coursera This is a beginner-level AI certification course that will help students know how to do the following including: Understand the basics of artificial intelligence; its applications and use cases; and key AI technologies, such as machine learning, deep learning and neural networks. Build AI-powered tools using IBM Watson AI services, APIs and Python with minimal coding. Create virtual assistants and AI chatbots without programming and deploy them on websites. Apply computer vision techniques using Python, OpenCV and Watson. Develop custom image classification models and deploy them in the cloud. Requirements: While the series is open to everyone with both technical and nontechnical backgrounds, the final two courses require some knowledge of Python to build and deploy AI applications. For students with no programming background, an introductory Python course is included. You can check it out here Deep Learning Specialization by Andrew Ng via Coursera This detailed series of five intermediate to advanced courses, covers neural networks and deep learning as well as their applications. Learners will be able to: Build and train deep neural networks. Identify key architecture parameters. Implement vectorized neural networks and deep learning to various applications. Build a convolutional neural network. Apply it to detection and recognition tasks. Use neural style transfer to generate art. Apply algorithms to image and video data. Students will also build and train recurrent neural networks, work with natural language processing (NLP) and word embeddings, and use HuggingFace tokenizers and transformer models to perform named entity recognition and question answering. Requirements: Intermediate Python skills; basic programming; understanding of loops, data structures; and a basic understanding of linear algebra and machine learning (ML). To get started, click here Google Cloud’s Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path This certificate inclusive course by Google covers what generative AI and large language models are for beginners. It is oriented around specific Google applications, which is only good if you are a Google shop. Tools used include Google Tools and Vertex AI. It includes a section on responsible AI, encouraging the learner to keep ethical practices around the generative AI in mind. To start, check here Master the Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning via LinkedIn Learning This bundle, open to everyone regardless of experience, includes 10 short courses presented by industry experts. They aim to help anyone master the fundamentals and future of AI and ML (machine learning) and make more educated decisions and contributions in their organizations. Students will learn how leading companies are using AI and machine learning to alter how they do business as well as gain insight into addressing future ideas regarding issues of accountability, security and clarity in AI. They will also earn a certificate of completion from LinkedIn Learning after completing the following 10 courses: AI Accountability Essential Training. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Machine Learning. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Thinking Machines. Artificial Intelligence Foundations: Neural Networks. Cognitive Technologies: The Real Opportunities for Business. AI Algorithms for Gaming. AI The LinkedIn Way: A Conversation with Deepak Agarwal. Artificial Intelligence for Project Managers. Learning XAI: Explainable Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity. Register here Artificial Intelligence A-Z 2024: Build 7 AI + LLM & ChatGPT via Udemy This course via Udemy is a comprehensive online course designed to teach both the fundamentals as well as advanced concepts of AI, machine learning and deep learning. The key topics covered include State-of-the-art AI models Q-learning and deep Q-learning Proximal policy optimization (PPO) Large language models, transformers, NLP techniques for chatbots … Read more

Adieu to Social Media Content Deluge: Let us Manage Your Content

Adieu to Social Media Content Deluge Let us Manage Your Content (1)

Are you struggling with creating social media contents that drive leads to your business brand? Coupled with your 9 to 5 job, is it becoming extremely hard to consistently spindle contents for your struggling business? Have you taken a seat to consider the mental and emotional toll it is taking on you? Or do you need help to attract significant civic engagements to your business post? Better still, is it an educative or entertaining content you desire? Have you heard of TRW? Do you know that starting a business from the scratch isn’t as busy as new entrepreneurs might think? A lot of thoughts such as how to creatively construct social media contents run through the mind of the new business owner who at inception acts as the driver, manager, cleaner, HR, accountant, among others. It is as hectic as running a 9 to 5 job. Common challenges faced by businesspersons range from: finding the first users down to recruiting talented individuals to work for the company, taking the wrong business steps, not understanding cashflow, maintaining legal compliance, running both onsite and online social media content ads and keeping up with changing technological tools. First time users of products are beacons of light that help business tycoons testify about the credibility of their businesses. Lack of leads is a dilemma to every business owner as the opportunity to offer their services and sell is apportioned to them, no matter their expertise. Thus, a business can only thrive when it has customers to sell to. Helping businesses to Thrive on social media is TRW’s most cherished hobby. Creating meditative time for your business is a vital but time-consuming process. The significance of these systems cannot be underemphasized as working structures build trust in clients.  Therefore, setting aside time to ruminate over your business or businesses is key as running social media campaign ads stirs trust in the subconsciousness of audiences. Research has shown that many entrepreneurs worry about their business’s financial health. The struggle to manage cash flow effectively as an entrepreneur can be a daunting task. With the right strategies in place, it’s possible to stay ahead of the game and maintain a healthy cash flow which ranges from tracking expenses to negotiating payment terms with vendors. Another challenge entrepreneurs have is keeping up with the ever-evolving technological tool. Being the director as well as the Human Resource Manager isn’t what any trader with a global business vision should consistently practice; at inception is acceptable, but it should be abolish going forward. Such an individual should learn to delegate. Hence, what you need is a work-life balance. Work-life balance can seem evasive to enterprisers, but finding a comfortable evenness between work responsibilities and your personal life will eliminate a mountain of stress. While the perfect work-life balance does not exist, establishing realistic expectations for yourself and sharing them with your loved ones and team (if you have one) is vital to finding as much balance as possible. Demands will wax and wane, and a 50/50 split of your time isn’t always feasible or sustainable. Still, taking care of your health, working on something you’re passionate about, communicating transparently with employees, loved ones and clients, and having hobbies that bring you joy can help establish a proper work-life balance. Yet, it has been discovered many people make plans to achieve these goals but never attain it due to one reason or the other. Entrepreneurs endure lots of pain in pursuit of their dreams and business success. The truth is that this pain won’t last forever, and you can find supportive and skilled people to lean on to make the process more bearable. Don’t you think it is time to consider getting support of experts that can help you attract the right users of your product or desired clients to your business? TRW is proficient in deploying an intuitive blend of native resources and digital tools in crafting, refining, and projecting brand narratives for privates, corporates and governments. Her specialty includes advocacy, brand promotion, civic engagements, crisis management, digital footprints, digital PR, web publishing, process improvement, reputation management, SEO, among others. Interested? Visit us at: https://babatundeoladele.com/contact/ YOU CAN ALSO READ: Advertising:10 Tips to Creating Effective Advertising Contents    

10 And More Powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Help You Fast Track Your Career

10 Powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools to Help You Fast Track Your Career

In my previous article on AI (Artificial Intelligence): the past, the now and the future- you can read it here. I did mention how the world of artificial intelligence (AI) is affecting and would affect the way things are done. Today, however, I would be pressing further on the topic as I share 10 and more powerful AI tools that can empower and help you improve your career or business. Whether you are a creative, an entrepreneur or one just trying to explore, these tools come very handy for you. So, let’s dive in. We forget that other artificial intelligences are busy ingeniously working in the background on an increasing number of diverse disciplines while ChatGPT spread across the media like wildfire. And in my bid to bring a number of them to your knowledge and bring you up to speed, I went in search of them. For some, you might have known and used them before now, while for some, you might just be knowing right now. It’s fine. However, here is a non-exhaustible list of powerful artificial intelligence or AI tools you can explore. 1. Patterned: Patterned generates royalty-free and unique patterns for your product! You can search & create thousands of such patterns for every surface with this AI tool! Please click here to check it out. 2. Cleanvoice: This tool removes spurious sounds, stuttering, and mouth sounds from your podcasts or recordings. You can follow this link to make more clean voice(I mean, clean podcasts). 3. Beatoven: Creates unique royalty-free music. It uses advanced AI music generation techniques to compose unique mood-based music to suit every part of your video or podcast. You can start creating for free here. 4. Podcast: An AI that allows you to record studio-quality podcasts, directly from a simple computer. Explore here. 5. Copy: Generates content and avoids blank page syndrome. Check here 6. Illustroke: Creates stunning vector illustrated images from text prompts. Do you want to try it out? Here 7. Krise: Removes background voices, noises and echoes during calls. Start making clean calls here. 8. Stockimg: This is another image generation AI tool. With this tool, you can generate book covers, stock images, posters and the like. Click here to sign in. 9. Flair: Generates photo shoots of your products. It is simply a box of magic. Check it out here. 10. CopyMonkey: Makes it easy to write product listings on Amazon. CopyMonkey generates and optimizes Amazon listings in seconds. It helps place all of the important keywords in your Amazon listing to get you ranking organically on the first page. Follow this link to try it out. 11. Ocoya: Facilitates the creation and programming of content on social networks. Try it out. 12. Unbounce: Generates landing pages and emails. Check it out. 13. Vidyo: Generates videos for social networks from longer videos. Start generating here. 14. Quickchat: Chatbots that talk like humans for customer relations. Get in here. 15. Puzzle: Creates a knowledge base or glossary from documents. Try it out here. 16. Soundraw: Generates royalty-free background music. Check it out here. 17. Cleanup.picture: Removes objects, defects, people or text from your images. Try it out now. 18. Looka: This AI generates brand names and logos. Start creating. 19. Synthesia: Makes it easy to create training videos by simply typing text. You can try it out today. 20. Otter: Record meetings and take notes in real-time. Link. It is an AI meeting assistant. 21. Thundercontent: Generates all types of content. Start creating here. These are simply just a few of the myriads of AI tools that are available out there that can supercharge your career and business. Are there other AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools you know or have you come across that you can add to this list? Please share. I would be really excited to know and check them out.

Not all universities offers Mass Communication. Schools that do

Mass Communication Best Universities

Mass communication is the process of imparting and exchanging information through mass media to large population segments. It utilizes various forms of media as technology has made the dissemination of information more efficient. Primary examples of platforms utilized and examined include journalism and advertising. Considering the level of unemployment and low level of job opportunities, you need to take up a lucrative and versatile course that can find you an employment even with a  limited job opportunities. Mass communication offers a wide range of employment opportunities. It is a degree that not only provides you with a great level of knowledge and respect in society but also a career that can put food on your table. Job ranging from advertising, broadcasting, content creation, film production,  and writing, amongst others Here are list of universities that offer mass communication If you fall into this category as a student in Nigeria, and you want to study Mass Communication, it is advisable that you study in one of the best schools to study Mass Communication in Nigeria. Covenant University, Otta According to the World Universities Rankings, Covenant University is the top 3 best universities in Nigeria. This is a recognition well deserved. In recent times, Covenant university has taken the front seat in proving quality, student-centered learning for students from Nigeria and beyond, a semblance of what is obtainable in developed other climes. The school is also known for embracing cutting-edge technology and churning graduates who have become key players in various industries and very successful entrepreneurs. Going by this token, Covenant University is arguably one of the best universities for Mass Communication in Nigeria. InCovenant University, Mass Communication started as a program in the Department of Languages and Mass Communication at the inception of the University in October, 2002. An autonomous Department of Mass Communication was created in September 2004 and it has seen then made steady progress. It now has a complement of seventeen (17) full-time teaching staff and three (3) Senior Associate/Adjunct Lecturers. The Department also has more than 50% of her academic staff with a Ph.D and the remaining staff members have all reached advanced stages in their doctoral studies. Nnamdi Azikwe University Also called UNIZIK or NAU in short is a Federal university in Nigeria. It consists of four campuses in Anambra State. Its main campus is located in the capital of Anambra State, Awka while three other campuses are located in Nnewi , Agulu and Ifite-Ogwuari, Anambra State. The school is one of the federal universities which are overseen and accredited by the National Universities Commission. The university is named after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. The school has Mass Communication as one of its best courses they offer. University of Lagos It’s only proper that the University of first choice – Unilag – makes this list of the best schools to study Mass Communication in Nigeria. Another best university to study Mass Communication is obviously in Nigeria is the University of Lagos.. Apart from the part that Unilag is the most sought-after school in Nigeria one of the 3 best universities in Nigeria, Unilag is reputed has the university with the largest alumni who are the most successful entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The school is also the almater of some of the finest Journalists and broadcasters in Nigeria. Unilag being located in Lagos opens Mass Communication students up to opportunities at numerous televisions, radio and social media outlets in the country. Arguably, Unilag is your best bet when it comes to studying Mass Communication in Nigeria. University of Benin University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a research university located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The school is among the top most sought-after and reputable public universities in Nigeria. The university of Benin is owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria and was founded in 1970. The school is arguably one of the best schools for Mass Communications in Nigeria. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is a federal government research university in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. ABU was founded on 4 October 1962, as the University of Northern Nigeria. The university operates two campuses: Samaru (main) and Kongo in Zaria. There is pre-degree school in Funtua a few kilometres from main campus owned by the university. The Kongo campus hosts the faculties of Law and Administration. The Faculty of Administration consists of Accounting, Business Administration, Local Government and Development Studies and Public Administration Departments. ABU Zaria is one of the best universities for Mass Communication in Nigeria. University of Ibadan Located in the city of firsts in Nigeria – Ibadan in 1948, the University of Ibadan is incidentally the very first university ever to be established in Nigeria. The University of Ibadan is the second-best university in Nigeria and one of the best schools for Mass Communication in Nigeria this year according to the World University Rankings. The school is known for retaining the highest number of Professors and emeritus professors and some of the most prominent Nigerians as their alumni. Little wonder the school has one of the best postgraduate schools in Nigeria. University of Ilorin The University of Ilorin also known as Unilorin, is a federal government-owned university in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. It was established by a Decree of the Federal Military Government in August 1975. Unilorin is not only known for the fastest academic calender, but also has a reputation as having had reputable alumni. The school is one that teaches Mass Communication well in Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University is definitely one of the best schools for Engineering to make this list. The school is arguably one of the best universities in Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), formerly known as the University of Ife, is a federal government-owned and operated Nigerian university. The university is in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. University of Nigeria Nsukka The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi … Read more

12 Guides on How to Conduct a Tabletop Physical Security Exercise

12 Guides on How to Conduct a Tabletop Physical Security Exercise

A tabletop security exercise is a discussion based interactive session where stakeholders meet in either formal or informal setting (meeting or conference room) to discuss roles and expected responses in the event of a particular security breach. Other types of security simulation include drills, penetration test, seminar, or conference. A security practitioner grounded in operational risk management should leverage tabletop exercise as a vital tool for emergency preparedness and management. This should be a budget-based project; knowing that security team’s resilience and agility would depend on it. A security team who are conversant with exercises will outperform its peers who adopt nominal approach. To create and execute real-time issue-based tabletop exercise, first you should understand your organization inside out. The business’ critical assets, the threats landscape and the adversaries must be identified. The vulnerabilities which have potential to be exploited by threat actors should also be known. In the business world that is faced with increasing and complex threats; the question is no longer whether bad things would happen. They will surely happen, what is key how did the security team respond to them both during and after such incident? Typically, a facilitator would guide participants through the exercise. Taking them through a particular security incident narrative and raise question about what steps should be taken to response. It is usually better to syndicate participants for diverse perspectives and insights. Potential scenarios for tabletop exercises should include, although not limited to those threats which the organization has higher exposure to base on risk ranking. These threats will share similarity but may differ depending on the business, the industry, location, operating environment, and complexity. What should be the purpose of tabletop security exercise? The purpose of a tabletop security exercise should include to evaluate security team’s capabilities. The organization’s level of preparedness for security incidents and to educate participants of their roles during and after security breaches. Some benefits of tabletop security exercise Prepares security team for different case scenarios – that is good case, bad case and worst-case scenario. It builds team’s response skillset. Optimizes resource allocation especially during emergency. It sets up security team against adversaries and prevent them been caught unprepared. It serves as training tool – can be used to check out training requirement. It is cost effective, when compared to other types of simulation. How to conduct a tabletop physical security exercise Set objectives for the project: this will answer the question of what you want to achieve and provide clear insight to it. Reference the organization’s security plan: the organization’s security plan should be consulted to further guide on specific security incidents it has prepared for, otherwise general standard practices can suffice. Benchmark exercise on recent risk assessment: exercise should be preceded by recent security risk assessment which must have identified and prioritized the business’ security risk threshold. Consult team (downline and upline): getting input from internal stakeholders (within and outside security) as well as external stakeholders (industry practitioners) is highly recommended. Establish who is participating: identify persons or group who should play roles for the success of the exercise. Develop scenarios: create sequential narratives of security breach incident to be discussed. This should be done with open mind and a sort of intellectual humility. Run it on periodic schedule: security exercises should never be a one-off project, rather it should be scheduled to hold from time to time, e.g. monthly, quarterly, or annually. Set ground rules: rules must be set during the session to guide facilitation and moderation. For example, everyone must contribute to discussions, subject of discussion must not exceed allotted time, mobile phones to be on airplane mode, etc. Do hot wash: use hot wash to generate recommendations, insights and take-aways. This should be the crux of the tabletop exercise project. Document recommendations: for reference and archive, documentation of the entire exercise especially the hot wash is key. File project report: ensure formal communication is sent to appropriate authority. Create implementation plan: learnings from exercise will lose value if they were not practiced. An action plan to drive implementation of key learning is highly recommended. Threat actors are becoming more sophisticated in each passing day. They dedicate significant resources (funds and time) to plan and execute security breach. It is required that security team who are the defends against threats should devote sufficient time to rehearse how to frontally confront incidents when they come calling. Drill and exercise are regulatory subject in some industry, such as aviation and maritime. ALSO READ: Powerful Morning Routine Secrets: How Top Performers Start Their Day

Physical Key Management Practices for Organizations

Physical Key Management Practices for Organizations

Physical key management is important in today’s business world, although oftentimes overlooked and approached with levity. Effective key control is key for security, managing risks, and protecting assets of your organization. Whether it’s about logging and tracking issued keys, the principle of key management will play significant role in the overall security of your organization. By practicing standardized key control businesses would prevent potential security risks associated with porous practices. Organizations must be strategic in managing their building and office keys. Being tools for security protection, any compromise has potential to put critical and confidential business assets to avoidable risks. Let’s explore, simple and easy to adapt practices to keep organization office keys protected. That is, protecting the protector. Physical Key Management Practices Have policy, standard and procedure: starting point for office key management is to have policy in place. Such will make the organization’s intent known towards this direction. Following policy should be standards and procedures that would highlight step by step method of managing these keys. Staff and stakeholders must be notified, and periodically re-iterated. Establish authorized user: office keys must not be allowed to move freely from hand to hand. There should be clarity about who is an authorized user and under what condition will such authority be exercised. For example, authorized user of a particular office should have specified days and timeframe they are authorized to access key for official purpose. Create tiered access: users must be tiered. This means that authorization to use should be relative to roles, responsibilities and function. Principle of least privilege is recommended. A user can access only the office key required to perform their duties. Automate key tracking: automation of key tracking will enable managers know exactly who has what key per time. The system should also indicate when such key is been used beyond acceptable duration relative to programming. Alternate manual key log: where automation is not applicable, manual key log should be activated as substitute. Have master or valet key: your organization should endeavor to have master or valet key in place. This will come handy in the event of misplacement or loss of primary key. Store key secured: office key should be kept securely in a fire-resistant key rack. The rack location must be visible and constantly monitor directly or remotely. That is, protecting the protector. Code keys: office key should be coded with associated manifest, not labelled. Coding will conceal identity of users and prevent target unauthorized access. Simplify issuance and tracking: efforts must be made to simplify request, authorization, issue and tracking of this asset. This would eliminate drudging frustration usually associated with this exercise. Do periodic audit: ensure periodic audit is carried out. This is necessary for check and balance and accountability. Establish protocol for lost key: a lost key is a compromised key; as such protocol for lost key will ensure timely reporting, investigation and possible recovery or overhaul replacement. Building and office keys hold access to locations where vital business assets are kept. To protect these assets well; the protector must be protected. This can be achieved through simple procedures encoded into practices driven by organization’s policy. ALSO READ: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: The Key to a Prospering Workplace Culture  

Social Engineering Attack – What Your Organization Should Know

Social Engineering Attack What Your Organization Should Know

Social engineering is a human threat vector from cybersecurity point. It simply means the criminal action of exploiting human nature rather than technical path to gain unauthorized access to people’s minds, digital systems, data and other assets. We cannot talk about this threat enough; it is oftentimes the most relegated and the most exploited of all paths. This very brief article will cover the following sub-headings; meaning of social engineering facts about it human cognition often exploited by it broad types of social engineering common tools of it anatomy of social engineering countermeasures against it Facts about social engineering It is built on manipulation, regardless of the type. It is considered the path of least resistance to cyberattacks. A high number of successful security attacks have started with or involved a social engineering method. People should be critical part of firewall – human firewall, if you don’t mind.  awareness of it must be prioritized. Human cognition oftentimes exploited In the context of this piece, human cognition involves the mental process of understanding and reacting to unfolding events.  Average criminals, have always believed that these human traits would increase chances for success, as such they can’t do without them. See the highlight below. Authority – people most of the time respect and obey authority. Trust – it is natural for most people to trust, especially someone with authority. Responsiveness – a responsible person would want to be responsive to events. Fear – people fear not to get into trouble or found wanting of anything. Urgency – urgent reaction is natural, especially under duress. Threat – people want to avoid threatening event that steal their peace. Reward – it is often enticing and enriching to be rewarded. Curiosity – the inquisitiveness and excitement to face and close out challenge. Ignorance – is a liability to the holder, and an opportunity to the exploiter. Priority – people choose what to prioritize per time. Types of social engineering  Phishing: this is email based social engineering. It can be Spear phishing – targeting certain category of persons. Whaling – targeting rich and public personalities. Smishing: this type uses sms text to attack. Vishing: this one is voice/audio based. Watering hole: uses website or social media avenue to attack. Physical types of it Shoulder surfing: unauthorized covert observation. Piggy backing or tailgating: concert entry or exit to circumvent protocol. Dumpster diving: searching dump sites or bins for confidential data. Baiting: uses infested USB or other similar gifting to entice and attack. Other types known as synthetic content Synthetic content types of social engineering include; Disinformation: intentional spread of false and misleading information. Shallow fake: refers to alteration of original media content to misrepresent fact. Deep fake: uses artificial intelligence to generate and spread deceptive content. Common tools of social engineering Website Social profile Spoofing toolkits Clothing and apparel Appeal/charisma Phishing toolkits Audio recorder Infested USB Spy cameras Romance Anatomy of social engineering attack Establish objective – from outset social engineering attackers set out what they want to achieve. Determine target – they would establish who should be targeted, oftentimes perceived success rate is used to make this choice. Do reconnaissance – background investigation would be carried out to have better insight to routine behaviors of targets. Develop tools – necessary toolkits will be developed. Mobilize resources – other resources needed to accomplish the attack will be mobilized. Launch attack – at this stage, attack would be launched, sometimes in small scale. Evaluate success rate – the rate of success would be gauged. Revise/modify – if necessary, some modification would be applied to increase success rate. Relaunch attack and keep modifying as needed. Reap results – this maybe positive or negative. Countermeasures against social engineering Technical: policy, firewalls, authentication, and alert. Non-technical: training, awareness, and simulations. Social engineering is one of the most dreadful cyber threats of modern time. It can be a stand-alone; or a path to many other cybersecurity incidents. What is more? Cyber criminals find it very handy, reliable, and result-orient. They take advantage of human nature to deploy social engineering. Awareness and knowledge are key to avoid falling victim and compromising your personal identifiable data or that of your organization. ALSO READ: 4 Types Of Phishing Attacks And 10 Signs To Know A Phishing Email