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Digital Public Relations and Corporate Reputation Management Strategies of Oando, Seplat and Renaissance Africa Energy Companies in Nigeria

Dickson, Lauren Dawari, Prof. Godwin B. Okon, Prof. Richard N. Amadi, Dr. Itieke-Idamieba Harry

Abstract

This study examined strategic communication and stakeholder stratification among selected oil and gas companies in Port Harcourt, with specific focus on Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Oando Energy Resources and Seplat Energy Plc. The study specifically sought to identify the strategic communication techniques employed in stakeholder engagement; examine how stakeholders are identified, prioritised and stratified; assess stakeholders’ perceptions of the companies’ communication practices; and determine the influence of strategic communication and stakeholder stratification on engagement outcomes. The study was anchored on Stakeholder Theory, Excellence Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory. A descriptive survey research design was adopted and complemented with qualitative interviews to obtain deeper insights into organisational communication practices. The population comprised 2,502,560 stakeholders across the selected Local Government Areas, from which a sample size of 384 respondents was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan sampling table. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and in-depth interview guide and analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation, while interview responses were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings revealed that the selected companies employ diverse strategic communication techniques, including community meetings, consultation forums, face-to-face communication, press releases, social media platforms, operational briefings and grievance redress mechanisms. The study concludes that strategic communication and systematic stakeholder stratification are important for strengthening stakeholder relationships and sustaining organisational legitimacy in the oil and gas sector. It recommends that the selected companies strengthen digital communication and feedback systems, improve the timeliness and consistency of information, adopt more inclusive stakeholder classification frameworks.

Keywords

Strategic communicationstakeholder stratificationstakeholder engagementstakeholder identificationstakeholder prioritisationPort Harcourt.

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