Financing and Delivery of High-Quality Student Housing in Nigeria’s Federal Universities: Evidence from Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

This study focused on students’ housing financing in Nigeria. Historically, student housing in Nigerian tertiary institutions has been supported mainly by government funding. However, increasing student enrolment has placed significant pressure on this system as enrolment rate now exceeds the existing student housing capacity. This study aims to examine the available student housing stock, its deficit and the existing financial plan. Information was obtained through secondary sources and literature review, with narrative review used to interpret the collected information. Three universities: University of Ibadan (UI), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and University of Lagos (UNILAG) – were selected for the review. Findings show that only 30.5% of undergraduates were accommodated at the sampled universities, while 69.5% were not accommodated in the universities’ oncampus hostels. In addition, the universities lacked a detailed and structured financial plan to increase student housing capacity. Factors contributing to these results include limited funding, overcrowding, managerial bureaucracy and students’ actions. The paper concluded that the government and university management should create an enable environment for private investors to construct more on-campus accommodations to end students’ housing deficit.