LET'S WELCOME MRS....(Guideline to an introductory speech)

By Eniola Rahamat Idris

As a student on campus, I am very certain that you must have attended at least one event on campus. In every event (by events I mean seminars, conferences, colloquiums etc. ) there is usually a couple of speakers or more. These speakers are often introduced by another person before they actually come upstage to talk. Have you ever wondered why do we have to go through the stress of having someone introduce a speaker?

The goal of an introductory speech is to :

• Get us acquainted with a speaker.

• Present the speaker’s credentials and its significance to the topic.

• Arouse the curiosity of the audience.

• Make the speaker feel welcome.

Since the majority of what an introductory speech primarily focuses on is the speaker, that suggests to you that a proper and adequate knowledge of the speaker is imperative. In conducting this research, you can consult a number of sources including any print or online news article, podcasts, interviews, websites associated with the speaker. However, the most credible source would be the speaker.

Research basic information about the speaker. Such as:

• Full name of the speaker.

• The speaker’s title(s).

• Notable qualifications and achievements.

• Other credentials that are pertinent to the topic of their presentation.

On the other hand, be careful to not include any sensitive information about the speaker. This is why it is very important to get the needed information from the speaker.

Also, try as much as possible to avoid presenting a “full blown” biography or CV of the speaker.Also, an introductory speech is given to build anticipation of the topic of presentation in the audience and to warmly welcome the speaker. You can achieve this in a number of ways; you can highlight any detail or fact about the speaker that is appropriate and relevant to the topic, you can begin with a powerful quote, a captivating story, ask a thought provoking question or even make a bold statement. Remember, the opening sentences of your introductory speech are key to getting the attention of the audience.

By the way, in a bid to capture the attention of the audience, you should discard the idea of incorporating humour or revealing an information that the speaker might not be pleased with. In addition, do not try to exaggerate the speaker’s status. Do well to introduce the speaker properly but do away with overstatement.

Now that you know what to include, what not to include in an introductory speech and what it’s meant to achieve, let’s talk about the writing and presentation of an introductory speech.

• Brevity: You are only introducing a speaker and not delivering a complete speech, therefore, brevity is of high importance. You don’t have to say too much; condense all of the information into a concise speech.

• Simple language: Use simple language and avoid unnecessary vocabularies.• Avoid sentences that are too lengthy.

• The whole speech should have a maximum of 20 sentences.Your introductory speech might have a template like this:

• Opening sentences

• Notable qualifications and achievements of the speaker.

• Other credentials that are relevant to the topic.

• Highlight the topic of the speaker’s presentation.

• Finally, the speaker’s name and title(s).

Here’s an example:

Assume that I was asked to introduce a guest speaker at a woman leadership program. The speaker is meant to talk about the importance of women involvement in fields that have been stereotyped.

Good morning everyone,

What comes to mind whenever you hear this phrase; women in leadership? I think you might have to keep your opinion to yourself today because this speaker is about correct the popular notion.

Read Also: Meet Mr Damilola Mojaji

Our speaker, of course is a woman. Not just a woman but a woman of intelligence. She got her first degree in mechanical engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She proceeded to the University of Birmingham for her master’s degree in robotics. She has a PhD in manufacturing automation and robotics. She is currently a researcher at the University of Birmingham.

She is the founder of Dream Lift Foundation. This organisation focuses on helping young women nurture their vision and achieving a balanced career and family life. One interesting thing about our speaker is that even with her tasking career, she is an advocate of a balanced family life. She is a mother of three beautiful children.

Let’s welcome on stage with a round of applause and a standing ovation, Dr Mrs Adeyemi Sylvia.