Public relations and corporate image building

Abstract

Despite the increasing importance of public relations in university governance, many emerging Nigerian universities still lack structured public relations systems capable of building sustainable institutional reputation.This study examined the role of public relations in building the public image of the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to: examine how public relations strategies are employed by the University of Africa, ToruOrua to shape its public image; assess the effectiveness of public relations campaigns in enhancing the university‘s reputation among stakeholders, and identify the key public relations tools utilised by the university in managing its communication with the public. The study which is anchored on the Excellence Theory and Image Restoration Theory adopted a descriptive survey design with a sample of 241 respondents drawn from staff and students. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analysed through descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that while certain public relations strategies such as policy frameworks, public events, and feedback mechanisms were effective, others, including social media use, press relations, and crisis communication were underutilised in University of Africa, Toru-Orua. The study recommended that the university strengthen structured, technology-driven, and inclusive communication strategies to enhance visibility, credibility, and stakeholder trust.