ASABA/Nigeria: Members of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Wednesday converged on the Press Centre, Old Government House, Asaba, for a capacity-building training programme on crisis management as part of activities marking the chapter’s 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The pre-AGM training, themed “Crisis Management: Building Effective Crisis Response Teams,” focused on strengthening the capacity of public relations professionals to anticipate, manage and recover from crises in an increasingly complex and unpredictable environment.
The training was facilitated by Professor Presley Obukoadata, Professor of Brand, Strategic and Meta Communication and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, who provided participants with practical insights into crisis preparedness, crisis communication, spokesperson management and post-crisis recovery strategies.
Speaking at the opening session, Chairman of NIPR Delta State Chapter, Mr. Godfrey C. Osakwe, FNIPR, described the training as timely and necessary, noting that organisations today are judged not only by the crises they encounter but by the effectiveness of their response.
Osakwe said the increasing volatility of the operating environment has made crisis preparedness an indispensable skill for public relations practitioners and organisational leaders.
“As we continue to navigate an increasingly volatile and unpredictable environment, the ability to anticipate, prepare for and effectively manage crises has become more critical than ever. Organisations today are judged not only by the crises they face but by the quality and effectiveness of their response,” he stated.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to learn from an accomplished scholar and practitioner in strategic communication, stressing that continuous learning remains essential to professional excellence.
The facilitator, Professor Obukoadata, led participants through the fundamentals of crisis management, explaining that crises are often defined by stakeholders’ perceptions and can significantly affect organisational reputation, financial stability, public trust and stakeholder confidence.According to him, crises can arise from accidents, corruption, scandals, technological failures, environmental incidents, product safety concerns and other unforeseen events capable of disrupting normal operations.
He emphasized that effective crisis management begins long before a crisis occurs, highlighting the importance of signal detection, prevention and preparation as critical elements of pre-crisis planning. The post-crisis phase, he added, should focus on learning, recovery and institutional improvement.
The professor also stressed the central role of communication during crises, noting that crises often create information vacuums that stakeholders seek to fill with answers regarding what happened, who is responsible and what risks exist. He advised organisations to respond quickly, consistently and transparently while avoiding speculation and the often-damaging phrase, “No comment.”
Participants were also exposed to practical strategies for building effective crisis response teams, developing crisis management plans, conducting simulations and ensuring regular training to improve preparedness and response effectiveness.
Professor Obukoadata further highlighted the importance of spokesperson training, advising communication professionals to maintain eye contact, avoid jargon, provide accurate information and remain calm under pressure when addressing the media during crisis situations.
The training also examined the growing influence of digital media on crisis management, identifying both challenges and opportunities created by the speed of online information dissemination and real-time stakeholder engagement.
Participants engaged in practical exercises and discussions on stakeholder perceptions, crisis communication strategies and organisational reputation management, with emphasis on protecting stakeholders, reducing harm and supporting recovery.
The event formed a major highlight of activities leading to the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Delta State Chapter of NIPR and underscored the institute’s commitment to professional development and the promotion of best practices in public relations and strategic communication.
The chapter expressed confidence that the knowledge gained from the training would better equip members to provide effective communication leadership in times of crisis and contribute to strengthening organisational resilience across both the public and private sectors.
