SALES PROMOTION AS AN EFFECTIVE MARKETING STRATEGY FOR SELLING CONSUMER PRODUCTS


 

 

The survival of any business organization depend to a very large extent on the patronage that it  enjoys from those who consume its product thus, promotion means to push forward, to advance in idea in such a way as to gain acceptance and approval for it.

            And also one the crucial components in the selling of the consumer product is promotion which is used in pervasion and communication which could either be form of advertisement personal selling’s, sales promotion, as a competitor in the market hope to influence as many consumers as possible to choose their product over alternative product. Sales promotion is an effective strategy in an organization and is an important ingredient in most promotion program through which a consumers are persuade and convince to buy a product or service and commonly support by sales promotion this belief is strengthen by port (1996), whose work have attempted to spell out Experiment analysis of the theory of sales promotion in relation to consumption.

            Also according to Ray Wild (years) promotion is concerned primarily with the persuasion gained largely at securing increasing the sale of the actual market  prior to this study, the researcher was able to observe restriction in the use of sale promotion in consumer product effective in consumer product, however, this shows that the effective promotion strategies will diminish market effort.

            While the presence of effective promotion strategies will bring about good performance on set goal as techniques of sale promotion is to complement and reinforce effort towards the achievement of set goal.

            The sale promotion is an effective marketing strategy for selling consumer product. Need to identify their goals, plan, strategies and facilities within this limitation to reach those goal effectively execute their plan and evaluate their performance, the relevance of this paper to became obvious, its important to know the various promotional activities embark upon in selling of product and its effectiveness in the marketing of her product.

            Promotion is an exercise aimed at information, persuasion and communication about a goals or services to potential consumers in a manner designed to illicit positive action.

Luck (1994)   communication process to comprise communication message, media, production, it is still long sufficient to make a complete satisfactory product.

The potential customers must be told why it is so satisfactory. Sales promotion strategies can be development as a promotional goal.

Sales promotion can be defined as any marketing activities outside personal selling, advertising and publicity. Sales promotion is used as a compliment way to other promotional strategies and auction.

There are different classes of sales promotion namely;

Consumer promotion; this, aims at generating sufficient sales promotion for a particular product which includes lottery, free sample and cash and trade discount etc.

Introduction promotion: This is to increase sales or demand of industrial goods or product through quality trade discount, credit, sales, free sample and industrial exhibition etc.

Trade promotion: this encourage the channel of distribution ot purchase the product or an organization, this can be accomplished by means of competition among middle men. Sale promotion major objective among others is to enhance the sales of cut over of a company’s product which will bring about increase in the co-operation profit. Sales promotion strategy is a part of the overall marketing plan and is normally in conjunction with other strategies. A price reduction for example would probably be supported with advertising. A new product would be introduced by a sales promotion campaign, an expansion of the sale promotion. The sale promotion is been tenancies of a market shares, the expansions of a territory.

            The elimination of our lets. The promotional goal, the long serve the firm’s ultimate goal. The long run of profit.

            The sales promotion is a selling activities that co-ordinate advertising and personal selling into an effective persuasive force. It is claimed that sales promotion move buyer towards the product. Many sales promotion campaigns involve the use of incentive. Incentives are something of financial nature added to an offer to encourage some over behavioural response.

a.         Sample: To give out the sample free f charge to consumer.

b.         Contest and Games: This desires to win easy monetary reward via games of chances is now spreading like wild fire.

c.         Trade Shows Exhibition: This is where they will demonstrate the product in a different product.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

            The researcher found it difficult to gather relevant information for the preparation of the project because of some difficulties, some of which were:

            Relevance of superior officer to allow the researcher to some vita information needed for the project.

            Questionnaire distributed to some member for sample where not returned. Financial constraint on the part of the researcher, no much fund was available to enable the researcher to move around and acquire more relevant information.

            Getting the staff list of salesmen from the marketing department, was a though task due to negative attitude of Nigerian to researchers.

            The other difficulty was the aspect of getting people to answer the questionnaire because most of the time the work force were busy, but after much persuasion they cooperated with the researcher.

            Time constrain on the part of researchers due to the nature of the programme of hand.

1.3       OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

            The research is mainly to examine the effectiveness of promotion in manufacturing industry by laying emphasis on BAGCO. Since inception of poly propylene bag BAGCO, which started with just forty (40) Polypropylene bags to test the market, made history rapidly as a result of the innovated product.

            The aims is also to determine the promotional activities implored by BAGCO for the purpose of this study and for other manufacturing industries.

            Advertisement on television is one of the best medium. The promotion is able to reach the target which makes them (target market) perceive the product in it tangible form; the popular jingle. “BAGCO” super sac well don win” the advert reveals that it is sensible for industrial purpose.

 

MANAGEMENT PLAN

            The impact of the competition was also felt when they introduced something similar as “BAGCO” a sub standard product was not recites able. This was noticed after five years of excellence performance (1996) by decline in sales but was tackled and ended by the marketing cure when they introduced massive distribution at every channels, the quality, future etc was improved upon and more sales forces where price for those who will not but in  large quantity to eliminate the effectivness of the competitors. The research also made us to see the responsibility of demand elasticity. It was demand for Bagco was Zero and Inelastic perfectly unitary during the raining seasons which result in increase in price to equal to the same percentage in quantity demanded.

            It is also important for its part of the requirement for the award of higher national Diploma in marketing in the department of marketing Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

1.4       SIGNIFIANCE OF THE STUDY

            This study will assist in formulating effective marketing programme in the manufacturing industry with the aim of improving customers’ satisfaction, importance of sales promotion at profit and close monitoring of the action of competitions. It is strongly believe that this research work will be readable and useful to all manufacturing company as a whole.

1.5       SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The research study is limited to Nigerian bag manufacturing company. The study covers the entire organization but will be represented by only 20% of the whole population.

 

1.6       DEFINATION OF TERMS

Sales promotion: sales promotion can be defined as any marketing activity outside personal sense, promotion has been defined as any identifiable effort with part of the seller to persuade buyer to accept the seller information and store it in retrievable form.

            According to BLATE R.G and NBELSON (1997) sales promotion consist of a diverse collection of incentive tools, mostly short term design to stimulate greater purchase of particular product or services by customer. Sale promotion is a variety short incentive used to encourage trial purchase tool for consumer free goods point purchase display etc.

            The sales promotion is a selling activities that co-ordinate advertising and personal selling into an effective persuasive forces. It is claimed that sales promotion moves buyer toward the product. Many sales promotion campaigns involve the use of incentive. Incentives are something of financial nature added to an offer to encourage some over behavioral resposnse. There are many ways of sales promotion.

Sampling: To give out the sampling free of charge to consumer.

Contest and game: The desire to win easy monetary reward via game of chance is now spreading like wild fire.

Trade and show Exhibition: This is where they will demonstrate the product.

            According to OSUAGWU AND ENIOLA (1997) sales promotion has major effort which include:

To get potential customers to buy a particular product they have use before.

To encourage heavily and thick usage of product.

To suggest new uses of product

To give product a good image

            According to STARTON AND FUTRELL (1996). A sales  promotional tool can be classified into three to serve various  purposes, two categories are:

            Consumer example include coupons contest gift, free sample, sweep stakes, trade shows, exhibition, point of purchase display product demonstration etc.

            Middle men: example are trade shows exhibition, free goods and product demonstration etc.

MARKETING

            Marketing is the process of getting product to the consumer which involve a number of related business operation, i.e find out what consumer wants, designing the product so that the consumer can buy it and the manufacturer will also benefit in term of profit.

            Thus, marketing therefore can be defined as the management function which organized and directs all those business activities involve in assessing and converting consumer purchasing power into effective demand for a specific product or service to the final consumer or used so as to achieve the organizational goals

STRATEGY

            PETER AND DONAELLY (1992) defined strategy as all activities aimed at getting product into all activities aimed at getting product into the dealers pipeline and accelerating sales by offering inducement to dealers, retailers and sales people.

            According to STRATOM AND FUTRELL (1993) strategy is a promotion aimed at middlemen, who are the next link forwarding the manufacturer distributions channel. Many manufacturer consumer goods use this marketing strategy.

SELLING

            Selling simply means asking prospect customers to buy more to the point, goods sales membership is selling goods that will not come back to people who will.

            Sales membership creates satisfied customers, not just cash producing sales. For a sales one made is ended but a satisfied successful sales consist of certain element of:

-               It induces other to buy a commodity of service

-               It confers some need benefit on the purchase

-               It is transacted at a price which yield a profit

CONSUMER

            Consumer simple means the last possessor of the last stage of production.

            The level of awareness of most Nigerians are still the major factor responsible for the slow face of involvements of consumerism in the country. Many Nigerians are illiterates as such they do not know their rights as consumer in their exchange relationship with manufacturer of marketing intermediaries.

PRODUCT

            A product can be defined as a set of tangible physical attributes assembled in an identifiable form e.g apple, orange, shoes, table etc. product attributes that appeal to consumer motivation and / or buying pattern are insignificant in this narrow meaning.

            A product may therefore be defined as a set of tangible and intangible attributes, including packaging, colour size, price, manufacturers and retailers services, which the buyer may accept as offering what satisfaction.

MAJOR PRODUCT STRATEGIES

            Below are five of the product mix strategies used by manufacturing and middlemen in making their product.

Expansion of production mix: A product can be expanded by icnrasing the number of the product lines and or increasing the depth within a line.

Contraction of product Mix: A product mix can be throne out by elimination an entire line or by reducing the assortment within the line.

Product Positioning: The ability ot management to position a product appropriately in the market could be a major determination of profit.

Trading up trading down: This strategy involves essentially an expansion of the product line. Trading up means adding higher priced prestige products to a line in the hope of increasing sales of existing low priced products.

EDITOR SOURCE:   Sales Promotion As An Effective Marketing Strategy For Selling Consumer Products (A Case Study Of Nigeria Bags Manufacturing Company, Ikeja Lagos)

ADVERTISING, ITS ROLE AND IMPORTANCE IN THE MARKETING OF CONSUMER PRODUCT


 

 

 

 

In an attempt to achieve the set goals of an organization, the organization must effectively communicate to the potential consumers and create awareness as to the existence of the product and the benefits to be derived from its usage. All these are of vital importance.

The concept of marketing is gaining more attention from various firms and companies, institutions, nations and from various exchange institutions.

Basically, marketing focuses its attention upon certain variables that serve as a tool of function in which advertising as a means of communication happen to be one of them and it can best described as a leading role of an organization project. It is said that consumers have every right to be adequately informed about any product of their choice.

Therefore, effective communication to consumers, increase their awareness as to product existence and benefit derived from their usage which is paramount to various marketing oriented companies.

Advertising is a process of getting an idea about a brand into consumer’s head, (i.e an idea which will move him or her towards purchase). A basic fact of life about marketing is that a product cannot sell itself: even a product that is designed perfectly to meet buyer’s desires and offered in affordable information about its availability and benefits are provided. For this to occur, we must understand both the brand and the consumer. The extent in which audiences receives and interpret advertisement determines the effectiveness of advertising.

Advertising must be received before it can be acted upon. Advertising is a major tool that firms adopt in reaching their customers. Firms use advert to alter or change their attitude and behaviors of their customers. Organization use advertising to persuade customers to buy what they do not really need.

1.2      STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

Despite all the benefits derivable from advertising and the need to keep up with stiff competition in market places, many organizations especially, in developing countries stiff fails to accept advertising as a marketing tool to be reckoned with. Rather, advertising budgets has been regarded as a waste and drain on their profits. Besides, critics of the marketing tools sees it as an evil that has eroded all rational thinking of the consumers’ reaction to purchase and increase sales.

1.3      OBJECTIVE/SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research will be carried out to find out the adverting philosophy in our industries.

The study is specifically undertaken to know the role and importance of global advertisement on consumers attitudes and preference in the firms products and also to know the reasons for recent increase in the advertisement both by the manufacturing and services of the company.

To study consumers reactions towards the product and as well to study consumers reaction the company advertisement.

The study will help to know the image that the company commands, generally in the market and the image it creates in consumers concerning certain products of the organization.  The marketing activities are becoming complex as a result of increasing stiff competition from various manufacturers to support their existence in the market places.

A lot of product are now struggling for the few earned by consumer naira. One must focus more attention on the importance of advertising, which is to inform and persuade consumer towards products and attribute benefits.

Manufacturing organization are making serious effort to motivate people towards purchasing their products and at the same time protect goods image of the organization. While focusing attention on advertising it must be equally, borne in mind that consumers are often irrational, unpredictable and erratic in their behaviours.

Therefore, there is need to understand the behaviour of consumers. However another significance of this research work includes:

1.        It creates mass markets that encourage economic of scale in production.

2.        It reduce distribution costs by pre-selling goods

3.        It contributes to the maintenance of high quality standard by making the public aware of the identify of the manufacturer.

4.        It also provides information about old and new product.

 

 

 

1.4      SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This project research will be restricted to advertising as a promotional tool, and it is going to deal precisely with the contribution of advertising in the development of manufacturing industry in Nigeria.

However, the following areas are going to be covered.

Advertising planning in global industry, concept of advertising, the meaning of company performance in relation to the sales performance and image of advertising product.

The study will involve one Global Soaps products. And again the study will also emphasis whether advertising is necessary or not during the period of recession.

That is, when the sellers, market prevails. The study will embody the concept of promotion in general and different techniques of advertising use in promoting Global products and suggest, if necessary, at the end of the study, the possibility of improving the present advertising programme to make it more effective.

One important problem encountered during the undertaking of this research study is financial constraint, which deprived the research work and the ability to visit many places and meet widely dispersed consumers of global product to gather enough information or data needed.

The general attitudes of the respondents given questionnaire and those interviewed personally also constitute another constraint to the project.

1.5      DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS

VARIABLE: This variable means different tools or method use in carrying out advertisement.

BRAND: Brand represents the various types of products talking about the size, the colour, the packing e.t.c.

PHILOSOPHY: This implies the ways and manner by which advertising activities are been carryout to inform, to aware, and to persuade consumers.

STIFF COMPETITION: This implies a situation where we have very strong competitors producing the same or similar products at a very high rate.

MOTIVATION: This means, encouraging the potential customers to buy their products in other to safeguard the organization products.

PROFIT: This implies all the gains and reward from all capital invested.

PRODUCT: Product means the total good & services produce.

VALUE: This means the amount or worth or capital invested to produce goods & services

SOPHISTICATED: this implies a very good ways of persuading both the potential and immediate customers to retain their loyalty towards the product.

POTENTIAL BUYER: This implies old and long term customer that as been loyal to the product.

COMMUNICATION: the means the process of desminating or processing of passing useful information about the product.

SAMPLE: A small part or quality intended to show what the whole is like.

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:    Advertising, Its Role And Importance In The Marketing Of Consumer Product (A Case Study Of Global Soap & Detergent Industry Limited Ilorin)

 

THE IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP STYLES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE


 

 

The performance of any enterprise or the life spans of an organization, whether large or small is directly proportional to the finality of its leadership. In the light of fact, an organization or community will only succeed, towards the achievement of a group goal, only if the reign of a leader exists. Thus; a leader is someone who has the ability to inspire, motivate and use power effectively and in a responsible manner towards the achievement of a goal considering this, leadership can simply be define as the act or process of influencing people, so that they will strive willingly and enthusiastically towards the achievement of a group goals.

          Yusuf (2001) argues that the ability of any organization to achieve its desire goals and objectives depends on the nature of its leadership. However empirical evidence has tends to show that leadership plays very significant roles in effective and efficiency of any organization. Ogunsan 91985) and Ochia (1987) admitted in their study that leadership skill were very effective in enhancing performance. Hence, leadership has a significant managerial factors and ingredients in the success of any organization.

Ingredient of Leadership

A.      The ability to use power effectively and in a responsible manner.

B.      The ability to inspire

C.      The ability to comprehend that human being has different motivational forces at different time and in different situation.

D.      The ability to act in a manner that will develop a climate conducive to responding to and arousing motivation.

          Thus, the move a leader understand what motivate their subordinate and how these motivation operate the better the actualization of a group goal, David Mann (1985) sees styles of leadership as some of the basic requirement for achieving good management, administration and good leadership. Leadership styles may be defined as a designing pattern of behaviour used in integrating both the organization and personal interest in achieving the organization aim and objectives. Furthermore, these styles of leadership are many but three are commonly in used in most establishment; free vein leadership style, autocratic leadership style and democratic leadership style. It is generally believed that good leadership style will increase organizational performance, lower unit cost, high morale sustain and improve management- labour relationship (Nwachukwu 1988).

1.2      Statement to the Study

Over the year, scholar have extensively research on the effective leadership styles in an organization. Prominent among then are Stodgill, Fieldler Likert, Blade and Monton, Tennenbaum and so forth.

Leadership have been seen involving a variety of styles, ranging from one that is highly boos-centered to that is highly subordinate with suggestion that no one style is always right and another is not always wrong in the context of business and services industries to achieve goals. More so, for manager or leader at appropriate leadership styles in an establishment, some situational factors need to be considered. These include position power, task structure and leader member relations.

1.3    Aim and Objectives of the Study\

          The aim of this research is to examine critically the impact of leadership style on organizational performance.

          The objectives of this study are as follows:

1.       To explain what is meant by leadership style

2.       To describe various types of leadership style

3.       To examine how leadership styles can improve organizational performance and create good leader member relations.

4.       To make recommendations as to how leadership style can exercise positive impact on organizational performance.

1.4    Significance of the Study

          The importance of the research study is:

1.       It helps to identify leadership style to be put forth by the manager in the organization, to ensure high moral and high performance among the staff of PHCN Plc Ilorin.

2.       The study identifies the advantages and disadvantages associated with different leadership styles under particular condition.

3.       Finally, it point out how motivational forces affects the performance of staff.

1.5    Research Questions

          It is unlikely that a leadership style that worked yesterday would be successful in today’s administration. Considering this 3 major questions’ what, where & how are being asked.

1.          What is the current situation of the organization? What leadership style is in use? What changes are expected by adopting a new leadership style?

2.          Where are we taking the organization? How much growth do we need? What is the targeted goal? What are the social objectives of the organization?

3.          How can we get there from here? This is the important part of question, as it proffer the leadership style to be adopted which in turn give solution to the above other question asked.

4.          Task structure – how does a task structure affect the subordinate performance?

5.           What are the impact of highly based – centered and their subordinate?

6.          The effect of the degree of freedom granted to subordinate by their leader.

The following research questions are set out purpose of this study.

1.6      Scope of the Study

This research examines the impact of leadership style on organizational performance of power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) formally NEPA, Ilorin between the period of 1999 to 2007 with strict emphasis on administration, marking and distribution section of the organization, as they are the major focus on the achievement of the organization goals.

1.7        Limitation of the Study

There are certain limitations encountered in the course of carrying out this research they include.

1.       Lukewarm attitude of the officials of PHCN in responding to the questionnaire.

2.       Fears of espionage as all vital information are classified as “TOP SECRET” because of government protocol.

3.       Improper filling of questionnaire by the respondents

4.       Long delays in getting back the filled questionnaire from the respondent as a result of busy schedule at work.

It should be noted, however that the limitations outlined above does not in anyway in validate this  research as sufficient data was obtained through insider friend and good human relation, therefore the research is still valid.

1.7      Study Plan

This research project is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introduction, which consists of the background, research problems, aim and objectives, significance, research questions, scope, limitations, study plan and definition of terms.

Chapter two is the literature review, which comprised of definitions of leadership and leadership styles, leadership theories and leadership styles  and behaviours.

1.8      Key Terms

1.       Autocratic: A leader who has complete power and expecting complete obedience.

2.       Amalgamation:       To combine or join together

3.       Benevolent: Doing good or being kindliness

4.       Boss: A manager or leader in Chief

5.       Consultative: A state of meeting with someone to exchange idea and opinions (Discussion)    

6.       Decentralized: The process of moving power/decision making away from a single large group to other small local group.

7.       Democratic: Ruling or leading people through decision by

their group or people.

8.       Dogmatic: Act of being stubborn and forcing opinion on others.

9.       Enterprise: A business

10.     Exploitative: To make use of something selfishly.

11.     Goal: Anything aimed a t or wished for

12.     Impoverished: To make something poor or lesion in quality

13.     Leader: One who shows way on direct or guide or persuade

14.     Leadership: Ability to lead

15.     Manager: Someone in charge of a business

16.     Motivation: To cause someone to act in a certain way

17.     Non Coercive: To cause someone to act in a certain way

18.     Organization: A group of people working together for a purpose.

19.     Participative: To have a share or take part.

20.     Style: Manner of acting

21.     Subordinate: Someone lowers in rank

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:     The Impact Of Leadership Styles On Organizational Performance (A Case Study Of Power Holding Company Nigeria Phcn)

 

THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS ON THE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF


 

 

 

Universities in Nigeria are among the tertiary institutions of learning charged with the responsibility of training individuals to become professionals indifferent field for them to earn their first degree, second degree as well as PhD.

 Universities or any tertiary institution of their likes have three categories of staff, which are the principal officers or hither-to referred to as management staff, the academic staff and the non-academic staff.

Peaceful co-existence of these categories of staff is of paramount importance to the achievement of the objectives for which the university was established. That is, the interpersonal relationship between these categories of staff must be positive and cordial.

Research study reveals that, the impact of public relations in the university or any higher institution of learning cannot be over emphasized because it contributes greatly to the achievement of the positive interpersonal relationship between the management and the staff.

Public relations according to the British Institute of Public Relations are “a deliberate planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organization and its publics”.

Osuji Chuks (1999), contends that:

“public relations is the process of creating favourable public opinion for an individual, firm, institution, organization and even for an intangible thing such as name so that any person who has something to do with that tangible or intangible thing, may perceive it in a good way”.

 

Dany Moss (2002), defines public relations as “reputation management that is enhancing reputation, reinforcing reputation and combating damages done to reputation”.

Public relations is all about building good image and good will for one’s self or for his organization.

From the above definitions of public relations, one can see the place of public relations in terms of maintaining mutual interpersonal understanding between the management and staff of the university.

For the purpose of this study a university is an organization where academic and non-academic staff are grouped together to form the publics or internal publics to be specific.

Public relation is the arbitrator to establish and maintain mutual interpersonal understanding between the organization and its external and internal publics.

The purpose of the study is to prove whether or not the establishment of public relations units or departments as the case may be has meaningfully contributed to the mutual interpersonal relationship existing among the various categories of staff of the University of Ilorin

 

1.2     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN

South.

The University of Ilorin is located in the ancient city of Ilorin, about 500 kilometres from Abuja, the Federal capital. Ilorin, the Capital of Kwara State, is strategically located at the geographical and cultural confluence of the North and South.

 

University GateUniversity of Ilorin was one of the seven institutions of higher learning established by a decree of the Federal Military Government in August, 1975. This step, taken to implement one of the educational directives of the country’s Third National Development Plan, was aimed at providing more opportunities for Nigerians aspiring to acquire university education and to generate high level man-power, so vital for the rapidly expanding economy.

The then University College of Ilorin was initially affiliated to the University of Ibadan. Dr. T.N. Tamuno, Professor and Head of History Department at the University of Ibadan, was appointed the first Principal of the College in September, 1975. Shortly after Professor Tamuno’s appointment as Principal of the College, he was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. It therefore, became necessary to appoint another Principal in the person of Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, former Dean of the then Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan, in December, 1975.

The then new Principal, Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, made several visits to the second Military Governor of Kwara State, the late Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo in connection with the new institution, such that by March 1976, he had established residence at Ilorin. The support given to the fledgling Institution by Governor Taiwo continued even more vigorously under the third Military Governor of the State, Brigadier George A. Innih, who ceded a portion of the temporary site of the Kwara State College of Technology to the University. The site, up till now, serves as the mini campus of the University.

 

Academic/Physical-Development
        Following an entrance examination, 200 foundation students were admitted into residence on Saturday, October 23rd, 1976, and academic activities commenced on Monday, October 25th , 1976, after the Principal’s maiden address at about 10.00am in the  Africa Hall. The University College had three foundation Faculties namely: Arts, Science and Education. The Institution began to develop its programmes in a way that not less than 60% of its effort was directed towards science-oriented programmes.

In October 1977, the Institution attained full autonomous status and has since then developed by leaps and bounds. The student population of 200 in 1976 has increased to 20,084 by the 2005/2006 session, while the total staff strength of the university stood at approximately 3,040 as at March 1, 2007. Up till January 1982, the university carried out its academic programmes, involving the Faculties of Arts, Science, Education, Engineering & Technology, Business and Social Sciences, and the Pre-Clinical aspect of the Health Sciences on the Mini-Campus. The completion of the Faculty blocks for Natural Sciences and Engineering as well as 8 blocks of student hotels by December 1981, made it possible, on the 2nd of January 1982, for the actual movement of over 1,000 science-oriented students to the Main-Campus to pursue their various academic programmes.   The law degree programme was initially established in 1983/84 session as a department in the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences. Though cancelled in 1986/87, it was resuscitated in 1993/94 as a full fledged Faculty.

The Main Campus currently houses the Faculties of Science, Engineering & Technology, Agriculture, Education, Law, Arts, Business and Social Sciences, (following the completion of the new seven-storey Senate Complex), the Unilorin Sugar Research Institute, Postgraduate School, the Main University Library, Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), Works Yard, Conference Centre,  Unilorin Resources Development and Management Board (URDMB), Student Canteens, the newly completed 2,000 seat multipurpose Auditorium and the Alumni/ Endowment Office. The Mini-Campus presently houses the College of Health Sciences, a mini Library, Canteens and Shopping Complex, the Institute of Education, some of the Revenue-yielding projects which are under the URDMB such as the Unilorin Computer Centre (Training Wing), Unilorin Bookshop, the Bakery, the Printing Press, and the Guest Houses. Each Campus has a Health Centre, a Post Office and Banking facilities.

Aside from two lecture theatres commissioned in 1997, there is an upsurge, from 2002 to date, in the physical development of the Main Campus. Five new Hostels were completed in 2002. Other projects were the Faculty of Education blocks and Lecture theatre; Lecture rooms, Offices and Lecture Theatre for the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences; Faculty of Science Chemistry block; Department of Agricultural Engineering block; offices for the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education; COMSIT building (PhaseI)among others.

A water Dam and Treatment Plant to provide uninterrupted water supply to the main campus has just been completed. The University will soon construct a rail-line to boost transportation between the University Main Campus and the township.

Apart from the renovation of buildings, a systematic upgrading of teaching and research facilities is being undertaken by the University within its lean resources. This includes provision of computers, laboratory equipment, etc.

Growth of Faculties

From three faculties in 1976, today there are ten faculties: Arts (1976), Science (1976) Education (1976), Engineering & Technology (1978), Business & Social Sciences (1981), Agriculture (1982), Law (1993, after an initial start-up in 1983), Basic Medical Sciences (2004), Clinical Sciences (2004) and Communication and Information Sciences(2008).

Altogether, there are 60 academic departments in the existing ten faculties. Undergraduate degree programmes run for 3,4,5, or 6 years, depending on entry qualifications and discipline. The University started with the traditional British “Three Term System” but later changed into a modified form of the American “Two Semester System” called Harmattan and Rain semesters with effect from 1979/80 session.

Each semester comprises one half of an academic year as determined by Senate. Also instruction in the various Faculties with the exception of the Health Sciences is by the course system. These courses are quantified into credits. The University has teaching support units which include the Computer Centre, Central Workshop and Stores, Biological Garden, Community Based Experience and Services (COBES), Medical Educational Resources Unit, General Studies (Use of  English/National Awareness) Division, and Teaching & Research Farm.

There are also the Public Units which are the University  School, the University Secondary School, Institute of Education and Educational Technology Centre. Although an academic unit, the Library is actively involved in rendering service to the university and the public. In addition, there is a Sugar Research Institute which is mainly a research unit served by academic mainly from Science and Agriculture Faculties.

        Public relations in Nigeria have come a long way. Just as the development of public relations practice was linked with world wars I and II in the USA, its beginning in Nigeria has also been linked with World War II.

As presented by NIPR’s (1988) anniversary publication “25 years of Public Relations in Nigeria”, the colonial government before World War II was concerned with collection of taxes and the running of a police force to maintain law and order in three protectorates amalgamated into Nigeria in 1914. If there was any public relations practice before the Second World War, it was merely maintenance of relationship with the traditional rulers to get in touch with the people. During the Second World War, however, the need arose for the colonial government to set up an information office which was later known as the public relations office of the government.

Sam Black (1990) has described June 1, 1990 as a memorable day for the public relations Profession in Nigeria. This is because on that day, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed Decree No. 16 “Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Practitioners 1990”. The then NIPR President also described the event as the “Finest hour of public relations”. He stated that, by this recognition all members of the Institute deserve to be congratulated on being part of the movement that has made Professionalism and excellence the hallmark of the Institute.

 

1.3  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Public relations have a cardinal objective of establishing and sustaining mutual understanding among the management and its various publics.

The underlying belief and basic concepts of public relations is that every organization, has an environment or a climate in which it is operating. This climate or environment, public relations also believe, should be conducive and peaceful to ensure continued and happy survival of that organization and the consistent achievement of its objectives. This translates to harmony between an organization and its publics.

This is why all definitions of Public Relations which are the notions, ideas and thoughts of what Public Relations are, from the point of view of its pioneers, have always centered on some constituents of the Public spirit, that is, opinion goodwill, acceptability, cooperation, understanding and others. All these are attributes of the public spirit which guarantee a good working and operational environment for any corporate body.

The problem statement is how the public relations function in University of Ilorin intends to actualize its Professionalism to achieve the good interpersonal relationship among the management and the staff. In other words, what are the contents of its armory in the achievement of its basic aims?

Public relations unit of the University will have to articulate management behaviour or mode of relationship between the management and the staff.

Public relations will communicate using all communication media. Public relations have to liaise with and be sensitive to the yarning and aspirations of the staff and act positively to satisfy them.

Having discussed what public relations is out to achieve within an organizational set up like University of Ilorin, I will like to discuss what an organization is.

An organization is a stable system of individuals who work together to achieve, through hierarchy of ranks and division of labour, common goals.

This buttresses the fact that an organization consists of people that interact with one another on regular basis for a productive venture.

For an organization to be vibrant and be in good terms with its employees, there is need for a good communication strategy and these are not always available at all times. This should not be so; therefore, the college has to do more publicity to enable its staff members to enjoy its good will and confidence.

With the existence of public relations experts in the college, the research is poised to critically evaluate its (public relations) activities in connection with the relationship existing between the management and workers in the University.

How has public relations unit tried to mediate between the two bodies as expected? Or does it only disseminate information?

How does information reach the members of staff who required such information?

Do employees have the opportunity to talk back to the management inform feedback?

How can one explain the incessant breakdown of communication within the campus?

This is what the study will like to research into in order to contribute to educational development and bring to light the significance of public relations in non-commercial organizations like a higher institution of learning.

 

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study is aimed at providing answers to the following questions:

i.            Do public relations activities adequately enhance employees’ communication in University of Ilorin?

ii.          Would employees of the University be better informed about the institutions policies, goals and programmes if there are no public relations in the University?

iii.        Do public relations efforts enhance employee’s productivity at the University?

iv.         To what extent are the public relations practitioners involved in the prevention of industrial unrest such as strike actions, ensuring harmony and better working conditions?

v.           How have the services of public relations promoted the image of the institution within and outside the institution?

vi.         Is the positive interpersonal relationship enjoyed in the university presently among the management and staff as a result of public relations unit’s efforts?

 

1.5   AIMS AND OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

It is erroneously believed in some quarters that public relations are only relevant in commercial organizations because it is aimed at improving the level of profit of the organization in the long run.

But this study’s aim and objective is to prove whether or not public relations is equally relevant in a non-commercial organizations where profit-making means nothing to their survival but rather peaceful governance for governments, achievement of the welfare of the people through the propaganda of an idea for voluntary organizations e.g. UNICEF, planned parenthood and others.

The result of the study is aimed at adding to the body of knowledge in the field of public relations.

It will also serve as a reference source and provide a research base for further researches in this area of public relations practice in higher institutions of learning and other related disciplines.

I also have the aim of making the study an educating and interesting project for reading by all and sundry especially the public relations students and practitioners.

The study is also aimed at meeting part of the requirement for the award of post graduate Diploma of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

 

1.6   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study will cover a section of the university internal publics, which are the employees. These employees consist of the academic and non-academic staff.

The study will also focus a little attention on efforts of the principal officers commonly referred to in academic circle as management staff with regards to assisting the public relations department to achieve its set objectives i.e. improving the interpersonal relationship between the management and staff.

The scope of the study will be between the management and staff of University of  Ilorin.

 

1.7   CLARIFICATION OF TERMS USED

This study has tried as much as possible to use familiar and common terms which people are mostly accustomed to.

However, I shall try to simplify some of the key terms that were mostly mentioned times without number.

Organization: as used in the study referred to the University of Ilorin and as well called corporate body a times.

Internal publics: are used to mean the employees, that is, staff or workers.

Academic staff: are those workers in the college that have their primary functions as teaching the students while non-academic staff referrs to workers in the administrative and technical offices.

 

 

EDITOR SOURCE:     The Impact Of Public Relations On The Interpersonal Relationship Of The Management And Staff (The University Of Ilorin As A Case Study)

 

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