The growing accommodation crisis within Obafemi Awolowo University has continued to push a significant number of students beyond the campus gates, where a different reality of survival, adaptation, and endurance unfolds daily. In an investigative exercise, The Nigeria Education News conducted random interviews and on-the-ground interactions with students residing in off-campus hostels across Ile-Ife, uncovering a pattern of infrastructural neglect, rising costs, and silent struggles that are gradually redefining the academic experience of undergraduates.
Findings reveal that while off-campus living is often perceived as a symbol of independence, the lived realities tell a more troubling story. From Asherifa to Oduduwa Estate, Ibadan Road to the AP axis, students consistently reported erratic electricity, water shortages, insecurity concerns, and arbitrary rent hikes. These challenges, they say, do not only affect their comfort but also disrupt academic routines, forcing many to seek alternative spaces just to read or charge devices.
Oyebila Kemi, a 200-level student of Law living in Oduduwa Estate, described electricity as her greatest challenge. “We can stay days without power, and when there is no light, water becomes a problem too,” she said. Similarly, Yemi Taiwo, a Part 4 student of English residing on Oroki Street, noted that persistent power outages have become a defining feature of her off-campus experience. Despite this, both students acknowledged that their environments are relatively secure, though they questioned the justification for rising rents.
In Asherifa, the situation appears more severe. A 400-level Accounting student, Faith Adewumi, lamented prolonged water shortages linked to faulty pumping systems, while also grappling with inconsistent electricity. “Sometimes we don’t have light for days, and it affects everything, including my reading,” she explained. Another resident, Marvelous Ogechi, a 300-level student of Political Science, echoed similar frustrations, accusing hostel management of neglect and delayed responses to basic maintenance issues.
For Tobi Kolapo, a 300-level Microbiology student living at Lagere area, the concern is largely economic. He described the steady increase in rent as “unbearable,” noting that conditions have remained largely unchanged despite higher payments. “I hardly read at home because of poor lighting. I have to look for better places,” he added. Oyebisi Babalola, a 100-level English student in Akaraba, Modakeke, also emphasized that while water may be available, lack of electricity renders it inaccessible, reinforcing the interconnectedness of these infrastructural challenges.
Further interviews conducted by The Nigeria Education News revealed a mix of slightly improved but still imperfect conditions. Emmanuel Alani, a 300-level student of Psychology residing in the AP area, pointed out that electricity supply appears to be controlled arbitrarily. “It feels like they give us light based on their mood,” he said, adding that the situation affects his willingness to study. Meanwhile, Irewumi Bolatito, a 400-level student of Nursing on Ibadan Road, reported relatively stable utilities but complained about noise pollution from co-tenants, highlighting another dimension of off-campus living rarely discussed.
Other students interviewed include Boluwatife (200-level Political Science, Maintenance area), Philip Taiwo (200-level Dramatic Arts, Asherifa), Oyindamola Adeyemo (300-level Computer Science, AP axis), and Samuel Ayomide (300-level Demography, Ibadan Road), all of whom pointed to a recurring pattern high rent, inconsistent services, and minimal accountability from landlords. While some described their environments as “manageable,” most agreed that the conditions fall short of what is advertised as “student-friendly accommodation.”
Historical patterns further reinforce these findings. Reports of protests over rent hikes and failed infrastructure such as those involving BVER, Nice Care, and Shadeyrin hostels indicate that the crisis is not new but rather persistent. Despite occasional interventions by the Students’ Union, many students told The Nigeria Education News that such efforts rarely translate into lasting improvements, leaving them to continually adjust to worsening conditions.
As the demand for accommodation continues to outstrip on-campus supply, the off-campus housing sector around Ile-Ife remains largely unregulated, raising critical questions about student welfare and institutional responsibility. For many students, the pursuit of education is no longer confined to lecture halls it now includes navigating a daily struggle for basic living conditions. Until structural solutions are introduced, the silent burden of off-campus living may continue to shape not just student experiences, but also academic outcomes in one of Nigeria’s foremost universities.
