RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CRISIS RESPONSE OF THE OSUN OSOGBO FESTIVAL

Abstract

This research presents an empirical investigation into the risk management practices and crisis response surrounding the Osun-Osogbo Festival, a prominent cultural and religious event in Osogbo, Nigeria, celebrated for its rich Yoruba heritage. Given the festival’s large scale, it encounters diverse risks including crowd control issues, security threats, health risks, and cultural shock. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and identify areas for improvement in ensuring the festival's safety and success. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the research integrates quantitative data from structured questionnaires with qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews using methodology of correlation and regression analyses to explore the relationship between risk management practices, and security measures. Findings highlight a complex risk management framework that includes pre-festival planning, real-time monitoring, and post-event evaluations. The results reveal significant positive correlations between improved risk management practices and enhanced crisis response effectiveness (r = 0.65), Security measures showed a moderate correlation with reduced threats (r = 0.48). It was advised based on the findings to bolster risk management frameworks, and enhance security protocols. These improvements are vital for maintaining the festival’s safety, cultural integrity, and overall attendee experience.