MOUAU Revives Campus Radio Station, Cancels ₦27 Million Debt, Rebrands as Agri-Voice FM 106.9

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has officially revived its campus radio station, Agri-Voice FM 106.9, following the cancellation of a ₦27 million debt linked to the station’s initial establishment contract.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, announced the development during a press conference held at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room to mark her first 100 days in office.

According to her, the revival of the station, which had been inactive for over four years, represents a strategic step toward strengthening academic communication, practical training, and institutional visibility.

She explained that the debt cancellation cleared a major financial obstacle that had previously stalled the operations of the broadcast facility, enabling the university to relaunch the station under a new operational structure.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that Agri-Voice FM 106.9 will serve multiple strategic purposes, including student skill development, agricultural education, and internally generated revenue (IGR) for the institution.

She emphasized that the station will function as a hands-on training platform for students with interest in broadcasting, communication, and innovation, offering practical exposure to media production and operations within an academic environment.

On its academic and outreach role, Prof. Akanwa stated that the radio station will be used to disseminate agricultural knowledge, including improved crop varieties such as habanero/rodo pepper, sweet bell pepper, and Shombo F1 pepper.

She further explained that the platform will support awareness creation on climate-smart agriculture, including the adoption of climate-resilient crops and improved livestock management practices aimed at enhancing productivity and sustainability.

In addition, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted the station’s potential to contribute to the university’s internally generated revenue base, describing it as a long-term asset for financial diversification and institutional sustainability.

The revived station, formerly known as Green 106.9 FM, is currently on test transmission as part of its phased reactivation process.

The development marks a significant milestone in MOUAU’s ongoing efforts to strengthen practical learning, agricultural extension services, and campus-based innovation.