ABSTRACT

This research project work focused on public relations strategies and crisis management using Ikot Ekpene as the case study, the aim and objectives among other were to find out the public relations strategies used by Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council in crisis management as well as the effectiveness of those strategies. The survey method was found appropriate for the study and the questionnaires was the instrument for the study. The population of this study was estimated at 432,000. The sample for this study was made of 200 respondents of Ikot Ekpene L.G.A who were able to respond to questionnaire forms which was analyzed through the use of frequency tables and simple percentages. It concludes that conflicts can be caused by competition, inordinate ambition, and struggle over limited resources, poor communication, lack of openness and trust, incompatibility of goals among others. For this reason, efforts should be made to avoid the sources or causes of conflict by playing down those factors that increase or facilitate the occurrence of conflicts through the use of public relations strategies. The study further recommended, Local Governments council should endeavour to employ competent hands to handle the public relations unit of the council who will be able to strategically plan and management public relations practices in the local government.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE                                                                               PAGES

          Title page    –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Certification –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Dedication   –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Acknowledgement           –         –         –         –         –

Table of contents   –         –         –         –         –         –

List of Tables         –         –         –         –         –         –         –

Abstract       –         –         –         –         –

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the studies          –         –         –

1.2     Statement of the Problem          –         –

1.3     Objectives of the Study   –         –         –

1.4     Research Questions         –         –         –         –

1.5     Scope of the Study           –         –         –

1.6     Significance of the study –         –         –

1.7     Limitation of the Study              –         –

1.8     Definition of Terms         –         –         –         –

2.0     REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 The Concept of Public Relations

2.2 History of Public Relations in Nigeria

2.3 Advantages of Public Relations

2.4 Disadvantages of Public Relations

2.5 Functions of Public Relations Management

2.6 Crisis Management Concept

2.7 Public Relations and Crisis Management

2.8     Components of Successful Public Relations Strategy

2.9 Theoretical Framework

2.10 Empirical Review

3.0     RESEARCH METHODOLODY

3.1     Research Design    –         –         –         –         –

3.2     Population of the Study   –         –         –         –

3.3     Sample and Sampling technique          –         –         –

3.4     Instrument of Data Collection    –         –         –         –

3.5     Validity and Reliability of Instrument           –

3.6     Method of Data Analysis and Presentation    –        –

4.0     DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.1     Data Presentation and Analysis           –         –

4.2     Discussion of Findings    –         –         –         –

5.0     SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1     Summary     –         –         –         –         –         –

5.2     Conclusion  –         –         –         –         –         –

5.3     Recommendation   –         –         –         –         –

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the Study

Conflict and crisis are undoubtedly inevitable in a man’s life. Man is gregarious in nature, a feature which makes it sacrosanct for him to relate with fellow man both at family, group and society levels. The relationship arising from this interdependence of man with fellow man for one reason or the other sometimes culminates in crisis and conflict (Aligwe and Alegu, 2018).

The fact that human beings get on the nerves of others which results in crisis does not mean that there is no rationale for a relationship between or among them. The reason is very obvious and therefore not far-fetched. Man by nature is a social being who must relate with another for things to be done, for success and progress to be made/ and for optimum result to be achieved. By implication, therefore, conflict is not entirely bad or destructive as it sometimes paves way for good result and achievement in the course of human relations (Aligwe and Alegu, 2018).

Crisis dates back to the origin of man. Crisis management, therefore, is very crucial to the existence and sustainability of the society, organisation and relationships. As humans get involved in business, social and organisational relationships, crisis becomes inevitable. The unpreparedness of any cluster manager to handle or manage crisis often leads to many negative and undesirable results either between an employee and employer, or clients and customers which will eventually tell on the image of such an organization or society (Ushie, 2021).

Ikot Uboh, a village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government has been in constant conflict with neighbouring village over land boundary. This has led to the destruction of properties and communal conflict with the their neighboring villages, This issue has lead to their destruction of posters and sign board on areas sharing boundary with Abiakpo Ntak Inyang claiming of owning the areas. This has resulted in unsettledness in the community which later subsided.

In the middle of the year 2023 Ikot Uboh village picked up a fresh conflict with Ikot Osurua village over an acclaim possession of their land space. This incident lead to the destruction of shops, buildings, properties and displacements of dwellers and business people in the area. This attracted the attention of the state government which had to call on the army to restore order in the community.

Public relations is currently approaching a new juncture with respect to its relationship with management. After decades of trying to establish its identity and value with different organisations, public relations today finds itself on the door step of what one can call the inner circle of top management. Gullager, (1975, p. 165) once describes public relations as one of the most confused, diffused and refused tools of management but it is really now at the stage where it is gaining formal acceptance into top management.

Heiberts, Unqurait and Bohn (2004, p.387) also see public relations as the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies policies and procedures of an individual or an organisation with the aim of attracting public interest and executes a programme of action to earn public acceptance. They also opined that public relations should be placed in an organization  and communities at the top management level, with public relations manager or director responsible to the managing director or director general or board of directors. According to him, the head of the public relations department/unit should occupy an advisory position and participate in major policy decisions.

Conducting public relations activities without a plan would be the same as someone trying to build a quality building project without an architectural design and specifications (Hasan 2014, p 538). Conducting crisis communications and public relations during emergencies without a plan and training could be suicidal or tantamount to one constructing a storey building without a solid foundation, because of the potential damage that this will cause to the organisation’s image, business, employees and even the managers.

Harlow (1981) posits that public relations is a distinctive management function which helps establish and maintain mutual lines of communication, understanding, acceptance and cooperation between different communities, involves the management of problems or issues, helps management to keep informed on and responsive to public, defines and emphasizes the responsibility of management to serve the public interest, helps the management keep abreast of and effectively utilize change, serving as an early warning system to help anticipate trends, and uses research and sound and ethical communication as its principal tools. Thus, public relations has become a useful tool of management and a vital communication link in an organised society. According to Cutlip, Center & Broom (2005), “failure to monitor public opinion through public relations has resulted in many chief executives being drowned in crisis”. Public relations strategies in crisis management using Ikot Uboh village, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State as the case study is the crux of this study.

1.2     Statement of the Problems

There is a saying that goes thus: Change is the only constant things in life”. In as much as change is desirable, not all change brings good fortunes, some bring about positive effects while some simply are destructive and devastating. The problem is that with each passing year many communities find themselves enveloped in crises which decelerate growth and brings instability in the polity, unhealthy competition, destruction of life and property as well as loss of life. In this modern era of ours, all villages, local government and states, should have a public relations aim of establishing and sustaining mutual understanding between the different members of the communities.

The persistent conflict between Ikot Uboh village in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A and her neighboring communities over land boundary disputes should be brought to order through effective public relations strategies, as this could greatly slow down the economic activities in the area and scare away investors since the area is mainly populated by business men/women, students and workers who helped to boost the economic activities in the area. Persistent conflict with neighboring communities should be brought to an end so that it will not scare away investors, development which could help to propagate the growth of the community and the neighboring communities.

The credibility and reputation of a community is heavily influenced by the perception of the publics during crisis situations. The public relations tools used employ in responding to crises in timely fashion, undoubtedly aids their mutual unity and understanding, while the reverse leads to attritions. There must be open and consistent application of public relations tool throughout the hierarchy, to contribute to a successful crisis management process. The public relations crisis management strategies of the communities in Nigeria are supposed to engender positive perception and response from their critical publics, the media, and most importantly their neighboring communities. However, the intractable crisis in different communities in Akwa Ibom States points to the fact that something is still wrong somewhere, hence, the motivation for this study, to critically examine public relations strategies in crisis management (a case study of Ikot Ekpene L.G.A. Akwa Ibom State).

1.3     Objectives of the Study

The following objectives will be achieve in the course of this study

1. To determine if Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council make use of public relations.
2. To ascertain the public relations strategies used in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council
3. To determine the effectiveness of the public relations strategies used in Ikot Ekpene Local Government.
4. To determine the extent to which public relations strategies enhances crisis management in Ikot Ekpene.

1.4     Research Questions

The following research questions serve as guide in the actualization of the objectives

1. Does Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council make use of public relations?
2. What are the types public relations strategies used in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Council?
3. How effective is the public relations strategies used in Ikot Ekpene Local Government?
4. What is the extent to which public relations strategies enhances crisis management in Ikot Ekpene?

1.5     Significance of the Study

The study will go a long way to benefit many co-operate Organization, the academics and Government Officials and communities in Crisis as few work have been done on the subject.

The foundation of modern society lies in its economic and industrial capacity for business and governance to grow and progress. There is the over whelming need to ensure stable social, political and economic environment. This show the vital position public relations has come to occupy in the scheme of things. Public Relations application in administration and Management can help in achieving the desired expectations when properly harnessedd.

In other words, business and industries will find the study important and used as it attempts to mirror the various Crisis, it also proffers solutions. The society will benefit from this research especially in this time of stress on the national economy and the high level of corruption pervading all sectors of our national life.

This study will enhance the practice of public relations crisis management by Nigerian public organizations.

The study will also enumerate the public relations strategies available to communities to herness to in order to maintain peace among themselves.

To the body of knowledge, it is expected to contribute immensely to literature that will help in managing crisis in public organizations. It is also expected that this research will help provide data and information to other scholars and students that would embark on researches about different aspects of public relations practices. This will ultimately help to build and sustain a climate of peace in public organizations, for enhanced economic growth for the nation.

1.6     Scope of the Study

This study will focus on public relations strategies in crisis management (a case study Ikot Ekpene L.GA.). The study will comprise of both male and female dwellers in Ikot Uboh village in Ikot Ekpene L.G.A.

1.7     Limitation of the Study

This researcher faced some obstacles in the course of gathering data, among the barriers were the unwillingness of some respondents, and government officials to provide information was another problem.

Again, the financial constraints made it difficult for the researcher to reach a wider public at the time frame too short.

1.8     Definition of Terms

Crisis management circle: This is an ongoing process involve in the planning in order to reduce the impact of disasters, the reactions during the disaster and the steps taken to recover after the occurrence of the disaster.

Crisis management: Is the process by which deals with major event or issues that threatens to harm the reputation of the school.

Discussion forum: interactive sessions involving parties in connection to issues or crisis and the management, in order to tackle the issues or crisis.

Management policy: Decisions taken by the management to solving the issues and /or crisis that have or may evolve.

Public Relations Activities: Public relation activities are strategies adopted and engaged by the management in order to build a good and positive image for the college.

Public Relations Practice: Is the practice of managing the spread of information between the staff and management of public organizations and its internal and external publics.

Crisis: Crisis could be defined as an unexpected or unstable situation which is dangerous and can either lead to the development or downfall of the society at large or any organization.

Management: Management can be defined as an act of maintaining an individual of a particular society in order to accomplish certain aims and objectives or goals.

Public Relations:  Is the practice of managing the spread of information between an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) and the public.