SUNDAY OGECHI BRIEL

This study investigates the impact of university radio stations on campus community development, using UNIBEN 100.1FM as a case study. It explores the extent to which the station fosters student engagement, promotes academic and cultural growth, and supports social interaction within the University of Benin. The study is guided by five core objectives: to assess the level of student engagement and listenership, examine the station’s influence on academic and cultural life, identify the challenges hindering its effectiveness, evaluate the role of digital technologies in content delivery, and analyze how programming strategies align with campus development needs. Anchored on the Participatory Communication Theory, which emphasizes inclusive, dialogic communication, the research employs a descriptive survey method and gathers quantitative data through structured questionnaires administered to 100 undergraduate students. The findings reveal a high awareness of the station (93%) but lower levels of regular engagement and interactive participation. UNIBEN 100.1FM significantly contributes to students' academic interests and social cohesion, yet its full potential is hampered by limited funding, low student participation, and infrastructural constraints. Nonetheless, digital integration via online streaming and social media has extended the station’s reach. The study concludes that while UNIBEN 100.1FM plays a pivotal role in enriching campus life, deliberate reforms in programming, funding, and interactivity are needed to maximize its developmental impact.

This study investigates the impact of university radio stations on campus community development, using UNIBEN 100.1FM as a case study. It explores the extent to which the station fosters student engagement, promotes academic and cultural growth, and supports social interaction within the University of Benin. The study is guided by five core objectives: to assess the level of student engagement and listenership, examine the station’s influence on academic and cultural life, identify the challenges hindering its effectiveness, evaluate the role of digital technologies in content delivery, and analyze how programming strategies align with campus development needs. Anchored on the Participatory Communication Theory, which emphasizes inclusive, dialogic communication, the research employs a descriptive survey method and gathers quantitative data through structured questionnaires administered to 100 undergraduate students. The findings reveal a high awareness of the station (93%) but lower levels of regular engagement and interactive participation. UNIBEN 100.1FM significantly contributes to students' academic interests and social cohesion, yet its full potential is hampered by limited funding, low student participation, and infrastructural constraints. Nonetheless, digital integration via online streaming and social media has extended the station’s reach. The study concludes that while UNIBEN 100.1FM plays a pivotal role in enriching campus life, deliberate reforms in programming, funding, and interactivity are needed to maximize its developmental impact.