It is no longer news that President Goodluck Jonathan has employed the professional services of American PR firm, Levick, who many believe were contracted to do damage control following the fallout of the over 200 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State on April 14.
Many respondents have since criticized the move on social media calling it a waste of public funds while others are of the opinion that this action is necessary going by the barrage of negative publicity the Jonathan administration is suffering from.
Here are 10 things you should know about the Washington DC based PR firm.
1. Levick Strategic Communications is a owned by Richard S. Levick was honored in four consecutive years (2009-2012) on the prestigious list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the Boardroom”. He tweets @RichardLevick.
2. The senior vice president of Levick, Eleanor Mcmanus has reportedly been appointed to oversee the Nigerian account.
3. Levick handled PR on the Wall Street crisis, the BP Gulf oil spill, Guantanamo Bay and the Catholic Church – all sensitive issues which needed nifty information management expertise.
4. The firm generates $ 12.5 million in revenue a year, which is higher than most PR firms.
6. Levick Strategic Communications has over 51 employees that provides public relations support for the communications, defense and aerospace, education, financial services, food and beverage, foreign markets, healthcare, natural resources/energy, and sports and entertainment industries, throughout North America countries.
7. Levick offers full-scale tactical and strategic support for communicating during a crisis, rapid-response crisis management team and comprehensive response training.
8. Levick is a public relations agency that specializes in high-stakes crisis and litigation communications, public affairs, reputation and brand management, financial and investor relations communications.
9. Levick represents companies and countries in the highest-profile communications matters.
10. Nigeria’s major opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC) has reportedly hired another foreign PR firm, Burson-Marsteller to take charge of its impending 2015 campaign at a whopping cost of $ 1.2m.