Influence of Campus Radio on Student Awareness of Institutional Policies: A Study of IMT Enugu Community

Campus radio stations serve as vital instruments for internal institutional communication, yet their effectiveness in disseminating policy information within Nigerian polytechnic communities remains largely underexplored. This study assessed the influence of campus radio broadcasting on students' awareness of institutional policies at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. The study was anchored on the Agenda-Setting Theory, which holds that media platforms shape public awareness by determining which issues receive salience and prominence. A descriptive survey design was adopted, targeting a population of 5,600 full-time students across all departments of the institution. A sample of 371 respondents was selected using simple random sampling, and a structured questionnaire was the primary data collection instrument. Findings revealed that students who regularly listened to the IMT campus radio demonstrated significantly higher levels of awareness of academic calendar updates, fee payment deadlines, and student welfare policies than those who did not. However, listenership rates were generally low among students who had consistent access to smartphones and internet data, suggesting a competitive disadvantage for campus radio in the digital era. Programme quality, scheduling, and signal coverage were identified as the most significant barriers to sustained listenership. The study concluded that campus radio retains a relevant role in institutional communication but must adapt its content strategy and broadcast hours to compete with digital platforms. It was recommended that IMT invest in signal expansion, digital streaming integration, and student-led programming to revitalise campus radio as a policy communication tool.
Keywords: campus radio, institutional communication, student awareness, IMT Enugu, agenda-setting