COMMUNITY RELATIONS STRATEGIES AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

This study examined community relations strategy and conflict resolution between Akwa Ibom State University and Obio Akpa Community. The objectives of the study were to examine how often conflict has occurred in AKSU community (Obio Akpa) community; identify the causes of conflict between Aksu and Obio Akpa community; identify the community relations strategies used by Akwa Ibom State University as a tool for conflict resolution; examine the effectiveness of community relations strategies adopted by AKSU as a tool for conflict resolution; evaluate the public perception of community relation strategies adopted by AKSU in conflict resolution and investigate the community relation strategy preferred by the host community (Obio Akpa) for conflict resolution. The study adopted the survey method of scientific enquiry, with questionnaire and interview schedule as research instruments. The population of the study comprised residents of Obio Akpa Community in Oruk Anam Local Government Area plus three management staff of Akwa Ibom State University giving a total 2,643. The sample size of the study was determined at 322 using Philip Meyer’s sampling size determination table. The study which was anchored on Conflict, Two Symetrical, Dialogic and Image restoration theories revealed that Majority of the respondents 190 (60%) were of the opinion that conflict occurs often between Akwa Ibom State University and Obio Akpa community; a total of 120 (39%) were of the opinion that CSR projects was the major community relations strategy adopted by Akwa Ibom State University as a tool for conflict resolution; majority of the respondents 125 (41%) agreed that the community relations strategy adopted by Akwa Ibom State University as a tool for conflict resolution was ineffective among other findings. The study concludes that Akwa Ibom State University as an institution of higher learning owned by Akwa Ibom State government, has a public relations unit whose function include managing the organisations public perception, seek to educate the public and other stakeholders, and maintain a cordial relationship between the institution and its host community in order to avoid conflict. It was recommended that management of Akwa Ibom State University should establish a separate office for a community relations strategist, whose role will be to liaise directly with the CLO and other stakeholders in the community in order to minimize conflicts among other recommendations