Public Relations Practices of Islamic Organisations and Community Trust in Katsina State

This study investigates the public relations (PR) practices of Islamic organisations in Katsina State, North West Nigeria, and their effects on community trust and institutional reputation. Effective public engagement by Islamic organisations is essential to their social influence, credibility, and ability to mobilise community resources for development purposes. The study employs a descriptive survey design with questionnaires administered to 160 community members and 30 communication officers of ten major Islamic organisations across Katsina, Dutsin-Ma, and Mani. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. Findings indicate that community trust is positively and significantly correlated with the perceived transparency, consistency, and accessibility of Islamic organisation communications. However, most organisations rely heavily on mosque announcements and word-of-mouth, with limited use of digital platforms, formal newsletters, or community consultation processes. Organisations perceived as transparent in fund management attract stronger community loyalty and support. The study recommends the adoption of structured PR and stakeholder communication plans by Islamic organisations, investment in digital outreach capacity, and training of organisation spokespersons in public communication and crisis response. These recommendations are relevant to Islamic civil society bodies, government-Islamic organisation liaison offices, and institutional capacity-building programmes in northern Nigeria. Keywords: public relations, Islamic organisations, community trust, Katsina State, organisational communication.