International Trip to Nigeria

23/01/18 Approach line manager and volunteer for opportunities including international travel

Jan 2018 - Wish to expand portfolio at work and gain experience in areas different to current job role, manager makes it known to marketing team that staff are needed to cover various trips.

31/01/2018 Meet with International Manager organise travel details & objectives


Objectives Include:

  • Attend Careers Fairs in Abuja & Lagos
  • Meet 5-10 authorised agents

24/01/18 Manager asks me to travel to Nigeria on behalf of Institute.

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25/01/17 Accept offer ✅

25/01/18 Meet with International Manager to outline trip

Trip Application

Trip Planning

01/02/2018 Email list of agencies to organise meetings, organise flights & accommodation

02/02/18 Decide objectives are slightly vague and decide to set targets, discuss with International Manager, expected turn out of 500 per career fair, set target of 100 names and email addresses for follow up emails/marketing on return from trip

07/02/18 Meet with International Manager to discuss agency contacts, have already set 10 meetings, send follow up email to agencies that have not already set times.

14/02/18 Follow up meeting with International Manager, discuss marketing collateral and organise shipping of same to destination.


Take some with me to study

31/01/2018 - First round of immunisations ✅

16/02/18 Follow up email to agencies, have 16 agents scheduled for meeting, offer 4 more slots to those who haven't replied

28/02/18 Final briefing before trip with International Manager


  • 20 agents now on meeting schedule ✅
  • Enterprise Ireland phone call to finalise arrival plans and airport transfers. ✅
  • Marketing collateral confirmed as arrived in Nigeria ✅

03/03/18 Flight to Dublin delayed by 8 hours due to snow. Arrived in Dublin at 9pm

Trip Execution

04/03/18 Fly from Dublin - Paris CDG and then Paris CDG - Abuja. Transfer from airport to hotel

05/03/18 Meet with delegation at welcome reception in hotel, leave hotel shortly after for first day of agency visits. Visit 6 agencies

06/03/18 - "Study in Ireland" careers fair at Sheraton Abuja hotel, collect 48 names and email addresses, 30 or solid leads for student conversion. Follow up by email in hotel room immediately after fair has ended.

07/03/18 Meet with 4 further agents in Abuja before flying from Abuja to Lagos in the evening.

05/03/18 Attend reception at ambassadors residence, meet with visa staff and get a contact for further queries.


Surprised to see schoolmate working at embassy - nice to catch up!

08/03/18 Leave hotel early to battle Lagos traffic, meet with 5 agents throughout day.
Attend second reception at honorary consular general's home, meet Irish community in Lagos and make contacts with those active in education provision in Nigeria.

09/03/18 Another early day and 5 agency visits. 20 visits completed

10/03/2018 Full day careers fair at Eko Hotel & Suites in Lagos, get 68 names and email addresses, roughly 45-50 are valuable and strong chance of conversion to sales.


Travel direct to airport after day to fly back to Ireland via Amsterdam. Will follow up via email on return to office.

13/03/18 Return to office and follow up with emails from Lagos careers fair

Post-Trip Evaluation

14/02/18 Second round of immunisations - follow up in 6 months ✅

15/03/18 Meet with International Manager, review contacts made and success of trip. Recommend we reduce agents by 5 as did not make an impression during trip

16/04/18 Meet with International manager to discuss applications from Nigeria, applications up by 50% while google analytics showing increase of visits from Nigeria by same amount.


Continue to follow up with potential students by email and suggest using Social Advertising to target Nigeria students, we have an email list so could start there. This idea was accepted but no budget for same in 2018

01/07/2018 Applications from Nigeria informally closed, we have 40% more acceptances from previous year. Survey sent with registration indicates strong majority attended a careers fair in Abuja or Lagos.


Next step is to evaluate those who attend in September and plan for next Nigeria trip in October 2018