The Influence of Organizational Communication on Employee Engagement in Flour Mills of Nigeria, Calabar

This study examines the influence of organizational communication on employee engagement in Flour Mills of Nigeria, Calabar, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Effective organizational communication is increasingly recognized as a foundational driver of employee engagement, yet its practical impact within Nigeria's manufacturing sector remains underexplored. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and primary data were collected from 140 employees across production, administrative, and logistics departments using structured questionnaires. The study is grounded in Shannon and Weaver's Communication Model and Kahn's Theory of Employee Engagement, supplemented by recent empirical literature. Findings reveal that employees who receive timely, clear, and two-way communication from management demonstrate higher levels of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural engagement. The study identifies internal newsletters, town hall meetings, and supervisor briefings as the most effective communication channels within the manufacturing context. Conversely, poor information flow across hierarchical levels, especially between factory floor workers and middle management, is associated with disengagement, increased errors, and higher turnover rates. The study also reveals a significant gap between senior management's perception of communication quality and frontline workers' actual experience. Recommendations include establishing structured internal communication audits, training supervisors in transparent feedback delivery, and adopting digital communication platforms accessible to all staff. These findings have direct relevance for manufacturing HR managers, operations directors, and organizational development practitioners across Nigeria's South South industrial corridor. Keywords: organizational communication, employee engagement, manufacturing, Calabar, Cross River State