CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1

Background to the study

Housing specifically refers to residential structures where people live and grow (Amole, 2002
and Aluko, 2004). It is in response to mans natural and legitimate need for a conducive and safe
environment for living (Akingbohungbe and Ojo, 2005). One variant of this is the students
housing (otherwise known as Hostel) which is an essential component of institutions of learning
in all cultures and climates. It was conceived in step with the philosophy of close and
complementary relationship of living and learning.
In Nigeria, students housing was traditionally almost exclusively on-campus. With time,
however, student population explosion and paradigm shift in the university on-campus
accommodation policy combined to give rise to spontaneous development of commercial Offcampus Students Housing (Housing) in university towns across the country.
However, up till 1980s accommodation was provided for staff in the campuses and up to 75% of
the students had hostel accommodation. Examining the condition of university accommodation
system then, Ocho (2006) maintain that those who were at the University of Nigeria as students
in the 60s and 70s were comfortable. Conditions in the other first generation universities at the
time were about similar. Three - course meals served at breakfast, lunch and supper. Students
lived in the room. They neither lacked water nor light in the hostels.
That was the state of the on-campus system then. Today, the story is different. Hostel rooms
where they exist are now overcrowded forcing some students to live off-campus. Some
universities in Nigeria were approved as non-residential institutions. A good example is the
1

Olabisi Onabanjo University and Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Ogun state. There is no
adequate planning for students accommodation in Nigeria. Similarly, the governments poor
funding of public tertiary institutions in the country has created a lot of problems to both students
and educational managers. One of the major problems confronting newly admitted students in
any Nigerian university is accommodation. Usually, students come from far and near places
away from family connections, only to embrace a baptism of fire, and frustration in terms of
campus accommodation. On-campus accommodation is currently inadequate, where it exists; it
is very exorbitant and unaffordable for the children or wards of the poor. In most cases, the
facilities available in hostels on-campus are deplorable and unfit for human use. In order words,
they are not conducive for proper academic pursuit. However, availability is the quest of an
average Nigerian undergraduate. Hostel shortages in Nigerias universities has become endemic
often, this problem is overlooked. However, hostel shortages give rise to an unusual clamour for
off-campus accommodation which has more challenges then the on-campus one. Off-campus
accommodation is either very exorbitant or the hazards paying transport fares, facing traffic jams
and hold-ups while coming to school or doing unnecessary and hazardous long treks before
meeting up with lectures and other innumerable problems that accompany living off-campus.
Problems associated with living off-campus result in student frustrations, cultism, poor academic
performance, prostitution, illicit and unscholarly demands among students and other hazards.
The result is production of half-baked graduates, escalation of vices and slow movement towards
development and civilization. Banjo (2000), writes that large numbers of students are forced to
live off-campus in cities where it is their responsibility to ensure suitable accommodation for
themselves. One undesirable result of this is that even when universities are closed down, gangs

are able to mount assaults on the campus from outside and even recruit jobless and equally angry
youths from town to join them.
It is true that the genesis of the poor welfare package for students in Nigeria is paucity of funds,
but some educational managers encourage off-campus structure abinitio without giving any trial
to on-campus arrangement. Some second generation universities including most third generation
and state universities have no plan in the first place to build hostels on campus; rather, their
interest is to encourage privatization of hostels. Thus, the need to assess the challenges of offcampus residential accommodation is the motivation of this study.
1.2

Statement of the Research Problem

The state of housing accommodation in Nigeria tertiary institutions are indeed in a deplorable
condition. In tertiary institutions worldwide, the provision of accommodation to the students
population takes different models. This includes; non-residential, where students source for their
own accommodation. Residential, where the university houses all its students and dualresidential, where the university houses its student population for a period of time only, probably
the first and final year, while the students during the remaining period source for their own
accommodations. Tertiary institutions require adequate housing provision so as to be able to
accommodate students without any physical, psychological or environmental effect. Olabisi
Onabanjo University is one of the higher institutions in Nigeria which did not make provisions
for students accommodation due to policy establishing the school, and this has been taking its
toll on both students and communities accommodating them. The students have had to rely on
housing provision by different adjacent communities.
Studies such as (Garry, 2009; Murray and Arajuo, 2010; Ojogwu and Alutu, 2010) has revealed
that most slum areas that are in proximity to higher institutions are as a result of the population
3

pressure from students who reside therein. Problems like slum development, infrastructural
provision difficulties as a result of the haphazard development amongst others are experienced in
the areas where these students live. These are in addition to violence by students.
Consequently, not many studies have been carried out on the challenges of off-campus
residential accommodation system among students. It is this gap the study intends to fill. The
question which this study intends to probe is: what challenges does off-campus residential
accommodation has on students behavior of Olabisi Onabanjo University?
1.3

Aim and Objectives of the study

Aim
The aim of this research work is to examine the challenges of off-campus residential
accommodation in Nigeria tertiary institutions taking Olabisi Onabanjo University as the case
study.
Objectives
The specific objectives of this study are to:
i.

examine different strategies employed by students in sourcing and solving their

ii.

accommodation challenges;
identify which of the gender the Landlords/landladies prefer in letting out

iii.

accommodation to and the reasons for their preference;

assess the preferences of university students between on-campus and off-campus

iv.

residential accommodation in the study area;

identify the challenges thrown up by the non residential nature of the university to the
students in the area.

1.4

Research Questions

The following questions were answered in the course of this research work.
i.

What are the strategies employed by students in sourcing and solving their

ii.
iii.

accommodation challenges?
Which of the gender do Landlords/landladies prefer in letting out accommodation to?
What are preferences of the university students between on and off-campus

iv.

accommodation?
What are the challenges thrown up by the non residential nature of the university to the
students?

1.5

Significance of the study

This study is of immense importance to students, university administrators, Ministries of

education, researchers and the general public. The study on completion will enable students
realize the negative effects of living off-campus and how to cope with the situation. The findings
of this study will enable the university administrators understand and appreciate the need for
providing accommodation to students. The study will provide safe upon which major decisions
could be taken by the university administrators to handle problems arising from, off-campus. The
results of this study will provide information base which will help the Ministry of education to
formulate better policies on student of off-campus accommodation system. The findings of this
study, will act as a spring board to who may want to embark on similar studies in future. Finally,
the findings of the study will help the estate managers and valuers to understand the consequence
inherent in off-campus accommodation and be able to take concise decisions on the need for
appropriate planning towards students housing and comfort.
1.6

Scope of the study

The scope of this research is limited to Olabisi Onabanjo University with concentration to
surrounding neighbourhood where students reside.
5

CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
2.1

Introduction

This chapter includes details of theoretical framework on the study domain, conceptual
framework which aims at highlighting the basis and the empirical origin of the study. In addition,
the chapter will also include the reviews of related literatures on the study domain. It will further
include the summary of the various literatures that have been reviewed in connection with the
study statement of problems and the outlined study hypothesis. The justification for the stated
hypothesis will also be highlighted in this chapter.
2.2

Housing Concept

In examining the concept of housing, it is agreed that mans basic needs in life is physiological,
which include food, clothing and shelter. The importance of shelter in mans life is second to
none but food and clothing. In other words, man seeks protection from the environmental
elements only after he has satisfied the need for food and clothing. This assertion was
corroborated by Maslow (1943) in his hierarchy of needs where he identified three fundamental
needs crucial to survival, thus food, clothing and shelter. Shelter according to the United Nations
(2003) differs marginally from the concept of housing while housing is widely accepted as being
more than mere shelter, housing goes far beyond having a roof over ones head but rather
comprises a number of ancillary services and utilities which links the individual and his family to
the community and the community to the region in which it grows and progresses.
The need for an effective and conducive students housing facility in an institution cannot be
over emphasized due to the fact that students are expected to be in a sound state of mind to excel
6

in their academic endeavors which can only physical protection but also a healthy social and
behavioral stability, the productivity of a set of student may not be totally unconnected with their
housing condition (Aluko, 2011).
According to Abram (1964), housing is not only a shelter but also part of the fabric of the
neighbourhood life and of the whole social milieu. It touches upon many facets of economic
activity and development. Thus housing provides social contacts, good image, a sense of
belonging and an indicator of social status.
Economically, housing represents a major portion of the family budget or that of an
establishment, yet in the realm of private and public investment, the built environment represents
a mans most tangible material asset (Kinyungu, 2004).
The 1992 National Housing Policy for Nigeria identified shelter as the most essential human
need after food. While adequate housing is crucial for effective performance of man, a
considerable proportion of Nigerians live in sub-standard and poor housing as well as deplorable
unsanitary residential environments (Onibokun, 1985).
To this end, one can deduce that housing is the process of providing a large number of residential
buildings on a permanent basis with adequate physical infrastructure and social services in
planned, decent, safe and sanitary neighbourhoods to meet the basic and social needs of the
population and is intended to provide security, comfort and convenience for the users (National
Housing Policy, 2004; Osuide, 2004).
The general definition of housing as the continuing activity of providing shelter within a defined
geographical area to people who being productive are able and willing to pay for and use a
defined quality of shelter, needs to be revisited because housing in its true sense goes beyond

shelter. It includes all the services and community facilities significant to human comfort
(Onibokun, 1982). The Nigerian Fourth National Development Plan (1981-1985) believes that
with the exception of food, shelter ranks highest among mans basic needs. It is, however,
important to note that housing goes beyond simple shelter; it includes services, facilities, utilities
within and without, on-site and off-site.
According to Onibokun (1982) housing is not only a basic human need; it constitutes a vital
component of mans welfare, life sustenance and survival. In the hierarchy of mans needs,
housing has been ranked second to food. It has a profound influence on the health, efficiency,
social behavior satisfaction and general welfare of the community. Housing is universally
acknowledged as one of the most basic human needs, with a profound impact on the life-style,
health, happiness as well as productivity of the individual (Dunn, 2000). According to Stafford
(1978), the concept of housing is generally defined for statistical purposes as dwelling units
(Housing unit occupied separately by households) comprising a great variety of quantities and
qualities. Aroni (1982) and Achuenu (2002), point out that housing should be a home, a resting
place with fundamental purpose of a secured, rewarding, happy or at least a liveable space. In the
context of socio-cultural functionality, housing is viewed as an area for recreation and
identification (Gallent et al, 2004) and can be regarded as psychological identity, a foundation
for security and self respect (Aroni, 1982) societal support (Johnson, 2006), and the setting for
the formation of social relationships (Amole, 1997).
One of the most intractable socio-economic problems facing the Nigeria nation today is acute
shortage of comfortable and affordable housing for the people. The major causes of the problem
have been identified and frantic efforts have been made and huge financial resources have been
expended, but strangely, enough, it has defied sustainable solution (Adedipe, 2009).
8

Housing as an investment has a significant role to play in the individual, local and national
economy. In most cases, it constitutes the first major capital investment and life ambition of
individuals (Bello, 2003). The desire to own a house constitutes one of the strongest incentives
for savings and capital formation (Ozo, 1990).
In more complex centers today with a maze of activities sometimes defying geography, housing
needs should desire quality and quantity from the quality and quantity of urban activities. It is for
this reason that housing is a subsystem of activities whose nature is clearly defined in a proper
planning framework which comprises a complex bundle of considerations, including privacy,
location, environmental amenities, symbolic characteristic and investment (Milanovich, 1994).
Housing is considered a consumable item by Lawrence (1995), because he believes that when
households dwell in a house, they interact even with the surrounding, therefore consumption
takes place. When they consume housing, they purchase or rent more than the dwelling units and
its characteristics; they are also concerned with such diverse factors as health, security, privacy,
neighbourhood and social relations, status, community facilities and services, access to job, and
control over the environment. Thus, to be ill-housed can mean a deprivation along any of these
dimensions. Characteristically, housing is unique among consumer goods. It is potentially very
durable, with a useful life span of around 70 years.
2.3

Student Housing in Nigerian Tertiary Institutions

The Nigerian higher educational institution was established with the aim of giving students a
very sound and qualitative education, so as to be able to function effectively in any environment
in which they may find themselves, so as to become more productive, self-fulfilling and attain
self- actualization (Saint, et al, 2004) .This is because in Nigeria, students are the single most
important stakeholders in the University/College System. Similarly, Students accommodation is
9

among the most important facilities that should be provided in a typical Nigeria University
Campus.
Living in students residence on campuses, has been identified as one of the interesting
experiences in the life of a university student. This is because it offers them the opportunity to
interact amongst their colleagues from faculties other than their own in addition to the unique
opportunity for night discussions and social interactions which when put together will help in
shaping the students social life, appreciation of their roles and responsibilities in the community
and society at large (Esenwa, 2003).
In the beginning Nigerian universities were established with the intention of providing
comfortable hostel accommodation for all students on campus. Up till the early 1970s there was
no problem of students accommodation in University campuses (Esenwa, 2003).
Some Nigerian Universities at that period were planned and designed to accommodate both staff
and students on campus; hence their location on a large expanse of land away from the
developed areas or towns. Then, not many females were admitted. Therefore, in the universities,
the spaces provided for accommodation were more for the male student. However, with current
search for parity; equal opportunity for both sexes; the female students enrollment has increased
(Esenwa, 2003).
Following this development, a committee, popularly referred to as Brigadier T. B. Ogundeko
Committee, was set up by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in 1977 to look into
funding problems in the Nigerian University System and submits recommendations. Esenwa,
(2003), noted that the recommendations of the Committee on students accommodation are as
follows:

10

a) Government policy that only 75% of university students should be housed on campus
should be continued and the need for these students to interact with the public is valid.
b) In order to relieve pressure on government finance in the areas of student housing, the
older

universities

should

henceforth

finance

construction

of

student

living

accommodation with loans, while government should finance one third of the student
accommodation required by newer universities.
c) The latter recommendation should put the newer universities at par with the older ones
which have had at least one third of their student accommodation requirements financed
by government. The students should contribute a substantial part of the repayment.
d) The universities should employ the services of an Estate Agent to undertake a feasibility
survey of the avenues of raising loans from the many mortgage establishments, insurance
companies, the provident fund and banks.
e) Design for students hostels should be more modest, simple and functional, so that they
can be within the means of students.
f) Students should be charged N150.00 per session for lodging the subsidy for additional
hostel would come from lodging charged on existing buildings in order universities
would government require to pay a subsidy until it has developed one third of the
accommodation required.
When it was however realized that even with this new policy, available hostel spaces were still
inadequate a new accommodation policy that guarantees accommodation for fresh students and
final year students was then put in place (Esenwa, 2003).
To create more accommodation space many universities introduced the concept of double
bunking (e.g. university of Benin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka) to increase available bed
spaces without a corresponding increase in the number of conveniences (such as toilets).

11

This turned to be a sedative measure because it worked for just a short while only as students
enrolment continued to increase without a corresponding increase in hostel facilities.
According to Esenwa, (2003), due to the drop in capital allocation to universities in 1975, when
seven new universities (known as second generation universities) were established, a policy
which provides for accommodation of about 33% of the total students enrolment in the
universities was formulated and it unfortunately, brought about the problem of squatters in our
students hostels.
In the middle of 1980s, the problem became so acute that students had no other choice than to
live off campus and grapple with the problem of insecurity, unsteady water and electricity
supplies, while some even slept in the classrooms (Esenwa, 2003), thereby, giving rise to so
many problems such as female rape cases, abduction of persons, rise in incidences of
prostitution, and fall in academic quality.
2.4

Type of Students Housing

In the United States of America (USA), one modern approach that the governments have been
emphasizing according to Handler (2001) is jointly financing of large housing programmes by
the governments and large private investors. In Nigeria, students housing type can be classified
into two (2) namely; Halls of Residence and Private Rentals.

2.4.1

Halls of Residence

Halls of residence are accommodation provided by the university, though at a cost to the student.
These halls may be mixed sex or single sex, catered or self-catering, with single rooms or shared
12

rooms and with suite bathrooms or shared bathrooms. The cost of these rooms will vary
according to these variables and the university you attend, and there may be further rules such as
visiting hours, quiet hours, alcohol and guest policies and opening hours out of term. This type of
accommodation is usually in short supply, when one hoping to live in a hall of residence at a
university, inquire is usually made early about application procedures.
2.4.2

Private Rentals

The private rental market flourishes in and around universities, and some institutions even own
properties that they then rent out to their students. Thus when considering a private rental
accommodation, research on the average rent rates, the kinds of leases on offer and the number
many flat-mates can live in your proposed accommodation. Again depending on once budget, a
variety of different options exist, including:

2.5

Bed-sit or rented room, usually in a family home, sometimes with cooked meals included.
Flat or self-contained unit in a converted house or building.
Purpose built apartment.
House.
On-campus living experience

Research on the impact of on-campus living satisfaction on student development has consistently
shown that students chances of persisting to graduation are greatly improved by living on
campus and having a positive living and learning experience. Students that have a positive
experience are more likely to see their program through to completion and have increased
satisfaction with their overall university experience. The following studies demonstrate that
while on-campus living may look and feel the same in many places, the way the program is
viewed and experienced by the students is not.

13

Popovics as cited in Thomsen (2008) that convenience, independence, security, and privacy were
perceived as advantages, although visitation restriction, rules, and noise were perceived as
negative elements of living in the on-campus environment.
Li et al. in Thomsen (2008) has conducted a research in investigating on student satisfaction with
their current living arrangements in the on-campus housing whether they plan to live on-campus
and whether they plan to move off-campus for next year. Li et al. in Thomsen (2008) found that
following six items were significant, positive predictors of returning to the on-campus housing
the following year: (a) ability to be on a dining plan; (b) leadership opportunities, (c) location
close to campus, (d) ability to choose where to live, (e) academic support available, and (f) highspeed Internet connection. Items that were significant negative predictors were: (a) ability to
cook meals, (b) length of lease/contract, (c) proximity to campus/town, (d) private bathroom, and
(e) parking accommodations, (f) ability to live with or near friends, and (g) ability to study where
you live. They also found the most significant predictors of returning to the on-campus housing
were also generally significant negative predictors of living off campus.
2.6

Off-campus living experience

Li et al. in Thomsen (2008) found the following results that are related to students prospect to
living off-campus. Demographic characteristics that significantly predicted a higher possibility of
living off campus was male gender. Significant positive reasons for students intending to live offcampus were: (a) ability to cook meals, (b) length of lease/contract, (c) proximity to
campus/town, (d) parking accommodation, (e) ability to live with or near friends, and (f) a
private bathroom. Significant negative predictors for students preference to live off campus next
year included: (a) the ability to be on a dining plan, (b) leadership opportunities, (c) academic

14

support available, (d) high speed internet options, (e) location close to campus (f) satisfy parents
wishes (g) adequate living space, and (h) social atmosphere.
Academic achievement is not significantly influence in students living environment. Of a more
uncertain nature, Dasimah et al. (2011) reported that academic achievement of off-campus
students are not influenced by the environment although living as off-campus is said to be more
challenging than staying on campus.
2.7

Housing Situation in Nigeria

Nigerians are confronted with a myriad of housing problems, which are essentially connected
with the hardships they face in securing and retaining a residence. This situation is particularly
evident in Lagos state due to the cosmopolitan nature of the state, which has placed great
demands not only on housing but also on physical and social amenities.
Egunjobi (1999) succinctly stated that there are twin problems of quantitative and qualitative
deficiencies with respect to housing in Nigeria, especially Ogun State. The efforts of
governments at federal, state, and local government to provide housing for the urban population
have not yielded much fruits.
Researchers have tended to draw a strategic link between urbanization processes in a country and
subsisting housing problems. Thus, the rapid rate of urbanization and its attendant socioeconomic and spatial consequences have been of tremendous concern to all professionals, policy
makers and analysts especially as it affects urban development and management (Olatubara,
2007). It should be noted that the problem of urbanization in Nigeria is not necessarily that of
level but that of rate. For example, while the level of urbanization in Nigeria is put at 36%, that
of South Korea is 79%, Mexico 74% and Columbia 71% (Population Reference Bureau, 2001).

15

While the rate of urbanization in Seoul is 7.8%, Mexico City is 5.5% and Bogota 5.4% and that
of Lagos is 15% per annum (Federal Government of Nigeria, 1991).This rapidity in the rate of
urbanization is so overwhelming that it generally far exceeds the speed with which government
are able to respond to the dynamics of urbanization due to inadequate facilities, resources and
capabilities at their disposal.
To fill the gap of quantitative housing problems in Nigeria in general and Ogun State in
particular are the private developers. These private developers according to Olatubara (2008)
have as their motivation the desire to make profit. Many of them capitalize on the acute shortage
of accommodation by providing housing at exorbitant prices to prospective house seekers.
Invariably, the majority of the houses provided by the private developers, besides being
expensive are deficient in meeting the requisite minimum standards that make for a healthy and
comfortable living. Also in housing policy, women or girls are often excluded or discriminated
against as they do not fit into the traditional concept of a family (African Development Bank,
1990). Furthermore, Lawanson (2006) states that when housing programmes are upgrading
schemes present opportunities for the improvement of human settlement, women are often
excluded. Projects are designed without reference to womans economic, domestic or community
responsibilities. Policy makers focused on providing for the needs of the presumed male head of
the house, virtually ignoring the large number of women who head or maintain households.
Among the peculiar problems are the patriarchal attitudes of men which see a woman who
moves out of her accepted family role in order to source for accommodation, as a loose
woman. Men may fall back on societal expectations and treat the woman as sexually available.
In some instances, the housing needs of women may force some of them to stay in a hostile

16

relationship, as some may perceive that they are likely to be denied accommodation elsewhere or
be sexually harassed by house-owners.
Globally, studies had shown this trend as regards women securing accommodations on their own
merits. For instance, United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Housing and
Civil Enforcement Section (2005) reports state that sexual harassment is more likely to occur in
rental properties, and among poor women who could not afford to pay market rates in a
competitive housing market. These women often choose between being harassed at home or end
up living on the street. The report also revealed that many of these female-tenants sometimes
were reluctant to report or challenge their landlords on their bahaviour. Instead, they move or
simply put up with the harassment, as well as with poor maintenance and services rather than
pursue fair treatment and justice.
Apart from this report, numbers of studies lend credence to the fact that female gender are
usually discriminated against in various ways when seeking accommodation. Seager (1998),
Novac (2005), Tester (2007) succinctly state that most migrant women who make up a larger
proportion of international migrants are usually discriminated against especially in access to
housing in foreign land. Most of these migrant women are also harassed by the landlords and
their agents as a result of perceived traditional roles of women or girls.
What is certain from literature is that poor or low income women are likely to be subjected to
harassment by the landlords. Likewise, female students who move out of the societal
expectations of their perceived roles may equally experience sexual harassment from the
landlords who may perceive them as being sexually available when trying to solve their
accommodation problems.
2.8

Residential Housing - A Global Problem

17

Handler (2001), observes, Every society is faced with the problem of producing human
habitation in sufficient quantity, and obtaining the kind of quality desired, at prices that
individuals and families can afford. Based apparently on this definition that can be described as
a working definition of the ideal residential housing, Handler declares, The problem of housing
exists in countries throughout the world. In the United States of America (USA), one modern
approach that the governments have been emphasizing according to Handler is joint financing of
large housing programmes by the governments and large private investors.
In Russia, Buckley and Gurenko (1997), state that although as much as 20 million apartments
were built in 80 years of the post-Stalin era, the housing condition in Russia is still poor. As
shown in Table 2.1, average floor space per person per square metre, an index of overcrowding
used by the World Bank, was 17.3 in 1993 in Moscow the capital city.
This is a far cry from the 34.0 in Cologne, Germany, and 41.1 in Toronto, Canada, although by
far ahead of Lagos, Nigeria at 5.5 square metres and the level of 3.5 square metres in Bombay,
India (The World Bank, 1999).
Generally speaking, housing is a problem in most countries of the world as earlier noted. The
problem arises from the phenomenal increase in population in many countries particularly in the
developing ones, vis--vis availability of resources, rising cost of building and competition with
existing and emerging needs in areas such as health, education, the environment, the economy
and security among others. Table 1 shows the cases of selected countries of the world with
respect to crowding in residential houses. It shows a range of 1.2 square metres in Lahore,
Pakistan to a high 44.0 in Copenhagen, Denmark. In Africa, Accra in Ghana has a figure of 6.2
square metres while Kano, Ibadan and Onitsha in Nigeria have 2.8, 9.0 and 12.0 square metres
respectively.
18

Table 2.1: Crowding in Residential Homes in Selected Countries

Country
Brazil:

City
Rio de Janeiro Brasilia

Average Floor Space/Square Metre Per Person in 1993

18.9

Cameroon

Yaounde

12.6

Canada

Toronto

41.1

Denmark

Copenhagen

44.0

France

Paris

30.0

Germany

Coologne

34.0

Ghana:

Accra

6.2

Kumasi

5.8

Bombay

3.5

Delhi

6.9

Bhwandi

2.4

Ibadan

9.0

Kano

2.8

Lagos

5.5

Onitcha

12.0

Lahore

1.2

India:

Nigeria:

Pakistan

Russia
Moscow
19.2
Source: The World Bank, World Development Report. Washington, DC: International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank, 1999.
The housing situation in Nigeria has been well documented by way of various studies on major
Nigerian cities. The studies have however been concentrated on the quality of the houses in
terms of age, quality of building materials used, services available (electricity, water, sanitation,
kitchen, and so on). The level of crowding has not received much attention in terms of surveys.
Government attention to housing and housing conditions in Nigeria are not encouraging. Olotuah
(2001), deposes with respect to the situation in Akure, Ondo State, The dreary housing
conditions of the core area of Akure are reflective of the inability of the government as well as
the private sector to meet the housing needs of the population. He reports the same
19

unsatisfactory conditions in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. In Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Akpan
(2001), reports that environmental conditions are not considered in housing development in the
city. Since housing in terms of sufficiency and quality is a problem the world over as deposed by
Handler (2001), and given the few cases in Nigeria mentioned above, it is evident that residential
houses are not enough in Nigeria and so would affect the requirement by students if the plan by
the Federal Government to stop further construction and operation of hostels in TEIs is carried
out.
2.9

Concept and Function of students Living Environment

Student housing presents a unique opportunity for student affairs administrators to contribute to
and support the educational experience of the university student. Besides that, the student
housing play a role as a place of shelter. Strange and Banning cited in Crimmin (2008) proposed
three conditions that help make students living environment productive, namely: a sense of
security attachment; processes for involvement; and an experience of neighbourhood. Banning
and Kaiser cited in Crimmin (2008), examination of the ecological perspective on the
relationship between students and their environments described the influence of environment on
persons and persons on environment. Foremost in this relationship is the responsibility of the
institution to create an environment conducive to meeting the educational needs of the
population (Crimmin, 2008).
Ware and Miller cited in Frazier (2009) reviewed research trends in student life, and found that
even though there were some differences in the how the studies were conducted; student housing
play an important role in the success of university students. Student housing plays an important
role in the enrolment of students and the adequacy of facilities can add to the desire them to
remain on campus. They drew the following conclusions from several studies:
20

Bowman and Partin in (Frazier, 2009) conducted a study to be determine if there is a significant
difference between the academic achievement of students that lived on-campus and their offcampus counterparts, as measured by grade point average (GPA). Bowman and Partin stated no
statistically significant differences in grade point averages of students regardless of residence.
Thompson, Samiratedu, and Rafter in (Frazier, 2009) claimed that progress and retention were
higher among students who lived on-campus, regardless of race, gender, or condition of
admittance. Students engaged in remedial work were shown to have performed better than their
off-campus counterparts.
Headershott, Wright, and Henderson in (Frazier, 2009) conducted a survey to measure the quality
of life within the university community. With regard to on-campus living environment, the study
found that students were less satisfied with university housing than with their academic or social
lives. The researchers attributed this to space limitations, lack of privacy, lack of freedom, and
poor maintenance that is commonly found in on-campus housing.
The quality of life a student has while living in on-campus housing will dictate whether or not
that the student chooses to remain in that environment. If that the student has had a quality
experience they will share that with others and encourage them to become involved with
opportunities that have been presented to them (Nurul Ulyani, Nor, Aini & Nazirah, 2011).
2.10

Housing Demand and its Challenges

Housing demand in urban centre is a manifestation and reflection of different household desires
to live in an urban centre (Todd, 2007, Akinyode and Tareef, 2013). The desire of people to live
in an urban centre is increasing at an alarming rate. Various reasons have been attributed to an
increasing taste for urban living and these reasons include employment opportunity, urban

21

amenities and utilities consumption opportunities. This situation has consequently led to housing
shortage and most people are also found living in non-decent building apartment (Olayiwola et
al, 2005) due to their socio-economic background which cannot cope with ever increasing price
of decent house.
Housing demand can be explained as the willingness and ability of housing consumer to pay for
a particular dwelling depending upon such consumers incomes, house type, location preferences
and local prices (Welsh, 2002). Demand is the quantity of good or service that consumers are
willing and able to buy at a given price at a particular given time period. Demand for housing at
certain price refers to the value that is placed on a house linked with the satisfaction derived in
such house. In economics, this is termed as utility. Housing need relates to social housing while
housing demand is related to private housing (Alison, 2004). Effective housing demand is
different from Desire housing demand. Effective housing demand can be explained as a desire to
buy a house that is backed up with an ability to pay for it. On the other hand, Desire housing
demand can be termed to be willingness to buy the house with the consumers lack of the
purchasing power to be able to buy the house. Until there is purchasing power in terms of money
to buy the housing unit, such housing demand has not become effective housing demand.
Maclennan et al. (1998) suggest housing consumer demand for owner occupation, low cost home
ownership options and housing affordability as ways of analysing the whole local housing
market system for communities in Scotland. This does not include the consumer preferences for
housing types or neighbourhood. In the case of high income earners, the low cost home
ownership options that may be available may not be suitable for the consumer preferences for
either the housing types or choice of the neighbourhood. The main determinant of the housing
demand is household composition while other factors such as income, price of housing, cost and

22

availability of credit, consumer preferences, investor preferences, prices of the substitutes and
price of the complement also play a role (Bourne and Hitchcock, 1978). Housing supply is
produced using land, labour and various inputs such as electricity and building materials. The
quantity of the new supply is determined by the cost of these inputs, the price of the existing
stock of houses and the technology of production. House prices and the growth rate of house
price are the two measures identified by Todd (2007) of the intensity of urban housing demand.
According to him, housing is in inelastic supply in some cities either through little or no open
land, restriction of local regulations on development that make it prohibitively expensive or slow.
The materials cost of building, unbearable conditions on getting loan from the mortgage banks
and government policies have been factors militating against the achievement of the effort of
public developers and private developers that is the government and individuals in bridging the
gap in housing supply and demand (Israel and Basiru, 2008). They therefore suggest the use of
indigenous building materials and technology, provision of habitable houses at subsidize rate and
amendment of some parts in 1978 land use act in order to assist in increasing housing delivery.
Among the factors that affect the supply of housing to meet the demand is the time of housing
process. The complexity and time duration in housing supply is one of the major problems which
contribute to the shortage of housing supply to different socio-economic status of housing
consumer. The time of housing process could not allow the housing supply to meet the housing
demand as a result of increase in urban population compared with the time period it would take
for housing delivery to be taken place into the housing market for the consumption (Lansley,
1979 and Okechukwu, 2009). Housing takes long time to construct and cannot easily be made
ready for consumption if there are changes in demand. Okechukwu (2009) is of opinion that,
there is need for proper understanding of the nature and complexity of housing production for the

23

purpose of solving these problems. He supported the view of UNCHS, 1996 and Tipple, 2001 by
attaching the slow rate of housing production to the bulky nature of building materials and high
cost of its transportation to the site, high and diversity labour component, initial cost of housing
production such as interest rates and inflation.
There is a wide gap between housing demand and supply. This is due largely to slow response of
supply to demand. The housing market often suffers from lags in supply adjustments. That is,
even if households with inadequate housing were willing and able to pay for better housing, the
response on the supply side might be long in coming (Rothenberg and Edel, 1972). This is due to
the long time it takes to build new houses in response to new demand. The rate of housing
construction, while it has increased and is still increasing, is not nearer meeting existing demand,
much less the extra demand created by the continuing urban population growth (Okpala, 1981).
The housing supply is fixed on the short run and the increase in housing demand increases the
equilibrium price on the long run (Agbola and Adegoke, 2007). This invariably makes the
suppliers to respond to the increase in the market price by increasing the quantity of housing
supplied. Housing supply naturally responds slowly to new demand, the minimum time for such
a response being the time needed to mobilise all necessary resources to start and complete new
buildings.
Okpala (1981) supports this view and concludes that the rate of housing construction, while it
has increased and is still increasing, is not nearer meeting existing demand, much less the extra
demands created by the continuing urban population growth. The failure of the private sector
housing to accommodate the larger percentage of the populace most especially the poor,
necessitated the direct public housing delivery option. Housing supply does not only reflect the
ability to build; it also represents the historical stock of the past construction. Some cities such as
24

St. Louis, Detroit and Philadephia, have an abundant supply of homes because they once were
more desirable than they are today (Edward, 2010). In these places, housing prices can often be
lower than the cost of new construction, because of the abundant supply.
The commercialization of residential housing in urban China in late 1980s led to rapid increase
of house price at annual growth rate of 11.3% (Gregory et al., 2009). This housing speculation
necessitates the intervention of the government to regulate the housing market. However, the
government regulation could not be effective in controlling the price of housing due to upward
shift in housing demand resulted from rapid increase in disposable income and upward shift in
the supply curve as result of rapid increase in construction cost (Gregory et al., 2009). It can
therefore be deduced that the forces of demand and supply are more powerful than government
intervention in urban China in controlling the housing price. Demand theory applies to the
behaviour of a respective housing consumer while socio-economic status of individual housing
consumer is not taken into the consideration.
Many attempts have being made both by individual and government through various programs in
solving housing problem in Nigerian urban centres (Onibokun, 1990). However, the problems of
housing supply in meeting the ever increasing housing demand remains one of the most pressing
problems facing Nigerian urban centres (Israel and Basiru, 2008).
2.11

Hostels in Schools - The Rationale

Those who have lived in hostels provided by schools will attest to the usefulness of the facility
for students. Some of the benefits of hostel accommodation according to Ubong (2007) include
but are not limited to the following:

25

1. Facilitating Reading/Learning at any level of education (primary, secondary, university

including postgraduate work), staying in the hall of residence or hostel does enhance the
desire to read. There are fewer distractions, there can be control (as in forced prep
classes in secondary schools), and the activities of studious colleagues can force less
serious ones to read. It is also easier to relate colleagues who are close by or teachers
where a student has a difficulty on a subject matter. Akpan (2000) has showed
quantitatively that a more optimal policy option in funding education is increased student
income support (as in bursary payments) going along with improved facilities if academic
performance is to be enhanced. According to him, the time that students are willing to put
into studies depends on the level of income support, expected income gains upon
employment (psychic income), as well as on the level of development of the study
environment, which includes the library, laboratory, classrooms, hostel facilities,
recreational and health facilities among other things.
2. Co-curricular Activities - Students in hostels have a greater opportunity of participating in
sports, games, club, and social activities that are expected to make them more rounded
individuals and citizens than those living off-campus who may find themselves forced
into domestic activities once they are at home.
3. Security - Students are indeed more secure on campus than off-campus in spite of the
menace of cult activities in tertiary institutions in Nigeria. This is because institutions
maintain security personnel on campus and do monitor the activities of students. Some
private Universities are known to lock their gates early and to insist on students obtaining
exit permits before they travel home.
4. Moral Training - Persons from tertiary institutions are graduated based on satisfactory
performance in character and in learning. Moral training includes individual behaviour

26

in group situations as in hostels. All institutions have Codes of Conduct that guide and
regulate student behaviour in hostels.
5. National Integration - It is one of the desires of the Federal Government of Nigeria to use
education as a means of attaining national integration. This is stated in the National
Policy on Education (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1998). Unfortunately and unwittingly,
policies such as the quota system and federal character are to some extent antiintegration. The principle of catchment area in admissions is such that parents advice
their wards to select institutions in which their states fall so as to make it easier for them
to secure admission. Thus a child could go through education up the doctorate level
within his or her state of origin and thereafter lobby for posting to a neighboring State for
the National Youth Service Corps Scheme (say between Lagos and Ogun States). Where
then would the young Nigerian meet fellow Nigerians from other tribes? Is it in the Civil
Service of his State of origin where he may end up working?
6. Private Relationships - Private relations in hostel rooms could blossom into lifetime
positive relationships that would be beneficial to both parties.
7. Pupil Personnel Management (PPM) housing of students is one of the aspects of PPM,
which is indeed a statutory function of schools (Ukeje, et al., 1992; Husen, et al., 1985).
Not only parents but also the society at large expects the administrations of schools to
provide this service to students.

2.12

Review of Empirical Literature

The importance of housing to a nation and its people cannot be over-emphasised. It has great
impact on the welfare and productivity of individual within the society (Abram, 1966). It has a
27

significant impact on health, social and economic well being of the individual. This is because,
standard housing improved comfort and consequently an inestimable influence on individual
productive ability. House is an institution not just a structure, created for a complex set of
purposes as Agbola (2005) described house as the totality of the immediate physical
environment, largely man-made in which families live, grow and decline. As a unit of
environment, housing has a profound influence on the health, efficiency, social behaviour,
satisfaction, productivity and general welfare of the individual and community. Housing
encompasses all the ancillary services and community facilities which are necessary to human
well-beings.
Two measures of the intensity of urban housing demand are house prices and the rate of house
price growth. In some cities, housing is in inelastic supply because there is little or no open land
and local regulations either restrict development or make it prohibitively expensive or slow. In
that case, demand for a location leads to bidding up of the price of land in order to equilibrate
housing demand with the available supply (Todd, 2007). Indeed, when compares house rent
across cities and town, areas that presumably have higher demand because they offer better
amenities and fiscal conditions exhibit higher house prices (Roback, 1982).
The determinants of housing affordability include household income and price of housing.
Housing cost is a function of the cost of construction (cost of building materials, labour and
entrepreneurial skill), cost of land and the cost of neighborhood facilities (Olatubara, 2007). The
prevailing housing problems in Nigeria include acute housing shortage, overcrowding and
unsanitary living conditions, exorbitant rent relative to income and the exploitative tendency of
shylock landlords, the high rate of homelessness especially in the urban areas and the high rate of
substandard housing both in the rural and urban areas (Agbola, 1998).
28

CHAPTER THREE
The Study Area and Research Methods
3.1

Introduction

The previous chapter discusses literature review and relevant gaps in the literature. This chapter
will discuss the study area, study population, sample frame, sample size and methodology for the
study as well as source of data collection.
3.2

Background information of the Study Area

Ogun State University, Ago iwoye was renamed after the first civilian Governor of Ogun state Olabisi Onabanjo. The University was established in 1983 as a multi-campus and non-residential
institution. The University campus is spread across the state based on regions (Ijebu, Egba,
Egbado and Remo). The University has over 70,000 students with a total output of 10,291
graduates and 1,697 postgraduates (wikipedia, 2015).
Olabisi Onabanjo University has multiple campuses. The Main Campus in Ago-Iwoye is
popularly called Permanent Site (PS) by the students and a Mini Campus which was the home of
the Faculty of Science till it was moved to the permanent site in January 2013. Faculty of
Agriculture is in Aiyetoro, faculty of Engineering is in Ibogun, College of Medicine is in
Shagamu, faculty of Pharmacy and department Biochemistry is at Ikenne. Information and
activities amidst Students are communicated through the schools portal as well as notable
privately owned magazines such as Inside OOU magazine, OOU Vanguard and a few others.

3.2.1

Location and size of Ogun state

29

Research work such as this is usually carried out within the context of a study area; therefore this
study is on Ogun State in South-west Nigeria. Ogun State is situated in the south-west region of
Nigeria. It lies approximately between longitudes 2 0 451 E and 40 451 E; and latitudes 60151N and
70 601 N. With the land area of about 16,762 square kilometres, representing around 1.8 percent
of Nigerias total land mass of 924,000 square kilometres, Ogun State is ranked 24th largest of
the 36 States in terms of land mass in Nigeria. It is bounded to the west by the Republic of
Benin, to the south by Lagos State and a 20 kilometre stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by
Ondo and Osun States, and to the north by Oyo State (See Figure 3.1). It is accessible to other
States in Nigeria and the outside world through the International Airport and sea ports in Lagos
State as well as international road network within the West African sub-region. Geographically,
the State is divided into four regions; Yewa to the west, the Egba and Remo in the central core,
and the Ijebu to the east.
Figure 3.1: Map of Ogun state showing 20 local governments areas

Source: Ogun State Regional Plan (2013)

30

The climate of Ogun State follows a tropical pattern with raining season starting in March and
ending in November, this is followed by dry season between November and March. The mean
annual rainfall varies from 128cm in the southern parts of the State to 105cm in the northern
areas whilst the average monthly temperature ranges between 23C in July and 35C in February.
Topographically, Ogun State is characterized by high lands to the north which slopes downwards
to the south. The highest region is in the north-west which rises over 300 metres above sea level
while the lowest level is the southern part which terminates in a long chain of lagoons (Ogun
State Regional Plan (OSRP), 2013).
Ogun State was carved out of the old Western State by the military administration of General
Murtala Muhammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo in April 1976. At creation, the State
comprised mainly the former Abeokuta and Ijebu provinces of the defunct Western State, which
were parts of the defunct Western Region until 1967. The indigenes of the State belong to the
Yoruba ethnic group that occupies the South West geo-political zone of Nigeria and parts of the
neighbouring Benin Republic. Since its creation, the people of this State have been subjected to
different political formations; a situation that has contributed in the development of the Egba,
Yewa, Awori, Egun, Ijebu and Remo political blocks (OSRP, 2003).
3.2.2

Administrative Setting

The administrative structure of Ogun State has been changing in line with the trend in Nigerias
political history. The political independence from Britain in 1960 marked the end of an era of
colonial administration that ushered in the Western Regional Government which administered
Ogun State. However, since the creation of Ogun State in 1976 not less than five military
governors/administrators and four elected civilian governors have administered the State. For
instance, in the second republic of 1979, the State was administered by an elected civilian
31

government that derived its powers from a written constitution. Presently, the State has 20 Local
Government Areas (LGAs) (see Figure 1). Each LGA is headed by a Chairman and assisted by a
Vice Chairman and elected Councilors as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
3.2.3

Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics of Ogun State

Ogun State is an agricultural, industrial and educational centre in south-west geopolitical zone of
Nigeria. According to the 1991 National Population census figure, the population of Ogun State
was 2,333,726 (National Population Commission, 1998). Analysis of the census figures indicated
a density of about 192 persons per square kilometres and a total of 578,835 households
distributed unevenly across the LGAs in the State. The census figures also revealed that about 45
percent of the population in Ogun State lived in urban settlements while the remaining 55
percent lived in rural settlements of over 2,500 persons.
With the population growth rate of 2.83 per cent per annum, the estimated population of Ogun
State was put at about 3,297,408 and 3,486,683 in 2003 and 2005 respectively. The 2003
projections suggested that the population comprised 1.591 million males (49 percent) and 1.655
million females (51 percent). Of the 3.458 million population figure projected for 2005, 45
percent or 1.556 million people were estimated to be living in the urban areas, while 1.902
million or 55 percent were estimated to be in the rural areas.
3.3

Research Methods

The methodology for this study is intended to ensure a systematic collection, analysis and
interpretation of good and relevant data relating to issues of off-campus residential challenges in
Nigeria tertiary institutions. Therefore, the research approach will follow a process described as

32

below to help obtain necessary detail information of the study for presentation, analysis and
finding.
3.4

Research Design

This study adopted exploratory survey design to investigate the problem areas of the research
and collect relevant information for analysis and interpretation. According to Nachmias and
Nachmias (2009) this design enables the researcher to ask randomly selected respondents to
respond to set of questions that yield data usable to examine and understand the challenges of
off-campus residential accommodation in Nigeria tertiary institutions.
3.5

The study Population

The study unit for this research is the universities undergraduates and landlords within the study
area. The study population is the undergraduates of the Olabisi Onabanjo University and
landlord/landladies of the hall of residence of the students.
Systematic random sampling technique was adopted for the administration of the well structured
questionnaire. Since there was no database of the students living within the university
neighborhood. Therefore, stratified random was adopted in order to obtain a representative
sample from the population. Stratified random sampling is an example of probability sampling.
The research selected two (2) faculties from all the faculties in the university by lottery methods.
The faculties selected include: (a) Faculty of Management Sciences, and (b) Faculty of Social
Sciences. Departments in each faculty were written out and two departments were selected by
lottery from each faculty. Thus we have in the Faculty of Social Sciences - Economics and
Sociology departments. From Faculty of Management Sciences, we selected through lottery Department of Accounting and Finance and the Department Business Administration. In all the
33

departments selected, compulsory courses were identified from 100 level to 400 level. During
the compulsory courses from one hundred levels to four hundred levels, papers were passed to
students who live around the university community, to indicate their names and areas they reside.
The students were told of the importance of the research and the need to cooperate by writing
their names and the areas they reside. All the names in the list from one hundred to four levels
collected were collated. Thus from the list, we have a total number of 900 names as the study
frame. However, for convenience ten percent (10%) of the students were picked from each
faculty through systematic sampling technique. Thus, a total of ninety questionnaires (90) were
sent out to students with the help of two research assistants. Also, fifteen (15)
Landlords/Landladies included in the study were picked through Multi-stage sampling technique
in the community. They were grouped in stages using smaller and smaller sampling units (strata)
at each stage. However, the cooperation of the landlords/landladies was solicited for by
explaining to them the importance of the research. The total study size therefore was one
hundred and five (105) respondents.
3.6

Sources of Data

The data useful for this study were gathered mainly through primary sources. These include
questionnaire

administration

administered

to

students

and

interview

conducted

to

landlord/landladies.
The secondary data were sourced through reference to related journals, dailies, magazines and
textbooks relevant to the research.

34

3.7

Method of Data Collection (Research Instrument)

The research instruments that were used to gather necessary information for this research work
include questionnaire administration and interview technique. This study is exploratory in nature.
It utilized both quantitative and qualitative research method. The quantitative method consists of
structured questionnaire: This consists of close-ended questions meant to elicit information on
the socio-demographic characteristics of the students as well as information on students access
to housing/accommodation in OOU neighborhood. Qualitative method consists of in-depth
Interview: Interview sessions were conducted among the landlords/landladies in the
communities. The questions were semi-structured. The questions were about their roles in
providing accommodation to students. Case Studies: A few case studies were included as well in
the study.
3.8

Method of Data Analysis

Two statistical method of data analysis were employed in the course of the research viz-a-viz
descriptive and inferential statistics. The raw data collected through personal interviews and
questionnaire were analyzed with the use of tables and simple percentage to make comparison of
the data. The correlation coefficient (r) was also employed using Statistical Package for Social
Science (SPSS17 Inc.) to show whether there is any significant relationship between students
preferences to stay on-campus and off campus from the distribution.

35

CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
4.1

Introduction

This chapter covers the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data collected during the
research work. There is an imperative need to analyze the data collected since all the data used in
this study were primary data collected from the well structured questionnaire and interview.
It should, however be noted that data collected would not have any appreciable value until when
they are analyzed before it becomes meaningful to the users and the study. The working research
questions and the study objectives developed and formulated in chapter one were also answered
and fulfilled in this chapter.
4.2

SocioDemographic Characteristics of the Respondents

Table 4.2.1: Sex of Respondents

Statement

Place of Residence

Variables
Male
Female
Total
Idode
Igan

Imere
Total
Faculty
Management Science
Social Science
Total
Age Group
18 24 years
25 30 years
Above 30 years
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

36

Frequency

Percentag

39
51
90
18
46

e
43.3
56.7
100
20.0
51.1

26
90
56
34
90
26
64
90

28.9
100
62.2
37.8
100
32.2
67.8
100

Table 4.2.1 revealed that socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents gathered on

gender differentials in access to accommodation revealed that 56.7% were female, while male
represented 43.3% of the sampled population.
Among the respondents, 20.0% of the respondents resided in Idode area; 51.1% resided in Igan
new site, while 28.9% resided in Imere town (Table 4.2.1). The implication of this was that many
students were able to secure accommodation at Igan new site. From direct observations, it should
be stated that of recent, more buildings were under construction by private owners at Igan new
town. This probably may be as a result of the presence of Olabisi Onabanjo University main
campus.
Distribution by faculty from the table shows that 62.2% of the students were from faculty of
Management Sciences, while 37.8% were from Social Sciences. This implies that a majority of
the sampled respondents were from the faculty of management sciences (Table 4.2.1).
The table (4.2.1) also revealed the age - distributions of the respondents. Those in the age group
18-24yrs constituted 32.2%, age-group 25 - 30yrs 67.8%. This shows that majority of the
respondents were in age group of 25-30 years.
4.3

Strategies Employed by Students in Sourcing and Solving Accommodation Problems

Table 4.3.1: Strategies in sourcing and solving accommodation needs

Variables
Registered Agents
Landlords
Transfer from students
Through Students Affairs
None of the above
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency

Percentage
34
46
10
90

37.8
51.1
11.1
100

37

The study seeks to examine the strategies that are likely to be adopted by students in securing
their accommodation needs. Table 4.3.1 shows that majority (51.1%) of the students secured
their accommodation from the landlords/landladies and transfer from students. However, 37.8%
represents those who secured their accommodation through registered agents. This implies that
landlords/landladies were involved in the business of directly renting out accommodation to
students on their own. The presence of registered agents was a new phenomenon among the
student. The registered agents on their own, source for the rooms/flats and compile all the list
of houses available around the university. Students were charged N500 (Five Hundred Naira) by
the agents before information on available houses for rent can be obtained. If agreement is
reached between the student, the landlord, and the registered agent, the agent gets his own
commission in monetary terms. This means that Olabisi Onabanjo University through its
students had created employment opportunities for some categories of people in the
neighbourhood.
11.1% of students solved their accommodation problems through fellow students. Students either
sub-let or transfer their apartments to other students upon the completion of their studies. These
new tenants were usually presented to the landlords/landladies either as brothers or sisters or
friends who had shown interest in the apartment. In these cases, agents are by-passed, making the
rent cheaper as the new tenant may not really consummate a fresh agreement, which attracts a
large sum of amount. This is one of the strategies adopted by the students in trying to cut cost
and solve their accommodation needs.

38

Table 4.3.2: Gender Preference of Landlords/landladies

Variables
Female students
Male students
All the above
I dont know
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency

Percentage
48
36
6
2
90

53.3
40.0
6.7
2.2
100

On gender preference by landlords/landladies as perceived by students while solving their

accommodation problems, table 4.3.2 revealed that landlord/landladies prefer female (53.3%)
students to male (40.0) students. In Nigeria as well as other developing countries, securing
accommodation is either through the landlords/landladies or registered agents. It is interesting to
ask how female students secured accommodation in the neighbourhood through the
landlords/landladies considering the societal perception of female gender and the age long
tradition of not letting out accommodation to single-girls.
Table 4.3.3: Students Preference for off campus to on campus residential accommodation
Variables
Yes
No
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency

Percentage
18
72
90

20.0
80.0
100

Table 4.3.3 above revealed that majority (80%) of the respondents prefer on campus residential
accommodation to off campus if it were to be available. This implies that off campus nature of
students accommodation poses a lot of hardship on students welfares.

39

4.4

Students Experiences of Discriminatory Practices and Coping Strategies

Table 4.4.1: Respondents who have experienced Discriminatory Practices

Variables
Yes
No
I dont know
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency

Percentage
68
17
5
90

75.5
18.9
5.6
100

Discrimination is to make unfair differences in ones treatment of people. People may be unfairly
treated for reasons of their sex, race, and tribe or even for reasons of their beliefs. Housing
discrimination is a serious problem because it is difficult to challenge or prove. Majority (75.5%)
of the students of the total sampled respondents had experienced one form of discrimination or
the other. While 18.9% of the total respondents had not experience any form of discriminatoey
practices, 5.6% were undecided.
Table 4.4.2: Distribution of Respondents by forms of Discriminatory Practices and Coping
Strategies
A. Discriminatory Practices
Finance
Sexual harassment
Religious Bias
Gender Bias
No Discrimination
I dont know
Total
B. Coping Strategies with these Discrimination
Look for another accommodation
Succumb to these practices
Report to the University authority
No response
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency
20
12
11
8
34
5
90
90
90

Percentage
22.2
13.3
12.2
8.9
37.8
5.6
100
90
100

Questions were asked about the types of discriminatory practices that had been experienced.
Table 4.4.2 revealed that 12.2% of the students commented that religion and gender biases were
40

the major forms of discriminatory practices experienced, while 13.3% of the students mentioned
sexual harassment as the major form of discriminatory practice. Sexual harassment according to
Akande (1999) is seen to affect negatively the environment in which the offender and victim
interact, either at work or in a social context. Sexual harassment pollutes the working
environment and can have a devastating effect upon the health, confidence, morals and
performances of those affected by it. Though, there are no national statistics on sexual
harassment in access to housing, sexual harassment includes a broad range of landlords
misbehaviours which include: making comments, touching, entering home to watch women
while they sleep or shower, exchanging sex for rent or repairs, sexual assault and rape.
What is certain is that there is imbalance of power relationships between landlords and student
tenants. Most landlords exercise this power unjustly on students where such student refuses to
cooperate. Hostility also may likely set in. Most students do not even know whom to tell of their
predicaments. That was the reason why all the students (See Table 4.4.2b) responded to instances
of discrimination by searching for alternative accommodation. This finding was also in line with
the report stated in United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Housing and Civil
Enforcement Section (2005). On the other hand, students who are vulnerable and succumb to
pressure from landlords sexual advances are at the risk of reproductive health bahaviour (Wusu,
2010). However, while it is necessary to maintain good relationship with ones landlord, such
relationships must be formal. Female students need to have a well-balanced self-esteem. Their
sense of dressing must be proper, as improper dressing sends wrong signal to male counterparts,
even to the landlord.
Another major discriminatory practice experienced by students was differential rent charges.
Table 4.4.2 above shows that 22.2% of the students (particularly the new students) complained of
41

discriminatory rent charges. Students were made to pay series of money by the agents before
rooms can be allocated to them. For instance, students were made to pay for a years electricity
bill, damages and water rates. A practice that was not common in Nigeria. One could state that
the money culture had caught up with the landlords/landladies. They behave as shylock. The
presence of students from the Olabisi Onabanjo University coupled with inadequate housing had
been the driving force behind this money culture. While the landlords/landladies often smile to
the banks, students were paying through their nose to get accommodation.
It could be inferred from their responses that the Olabisi Onabanjo University through its
students was contributing to the local economy and impacting positively on its neighbours
economic status. However, on the part of the student, when we compare what they pay as houserents to their socio-economic background and the cost of transportation to and from university, it
probably might not give the students money to spend in other areas like buying of text-books,
eating balance diet, access to computers, photocopying, typing of assignment, and all other
things that make for good academic success. Others may even engage in risky reproductive
health behaviour in order to survive (especially the female students). All these would have
negative effects on the students and may make university life un-enjoyable. Furthermore, apart
from paying exorbitant prices before securing accommodation, maintaining good relationship is
equally pertinent. What then is the relationship between the students and the landlords /
landladies?

42

4.4.3: Relationships between landlords and students

A. Students Relationship
Cordial
Conflictual
Indifference
I dont know
Total
B. Disturbances experienced at home
Domestic Violence
Neighbors Disturbances
Increase in house rent
Incidence of robbery
None of the above
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency
21
42
10
17
90
Frequency
28
43
12
7
90

Percentage
23.3
46.7
11.1
18.9
100
Percentage
31.1
47.8
13.3
7.8
100

Questions were asked about students relationships with their landlords/landladies. The aim was
to ascertain the state of their relationships between them as this is important for their well-being,
their state of mind and effective concentration in their studies. Table 4.4.3 revealed that among
the students population, (23.3%) had cordial relationship with their landlords/landladies; while
46.7% of respondents had conflictual relationships with their landlord/landladies; 11.1% of
students respondents expressed attitudes of indifference.
Students attitudes of indifference to conflict with their landlords/landladies might have
developed as a result of physical and mental disturbances they experienced at home.
Table 4.4.3b also showed that 47.8% of population expressed neighbours disturbances as the
major form of disturbance experienced. Neighbours disturbances could occur in varying forms.
Such as noise pollution coming from generating set, untidy premises or anti-social behaviours of
the co-tenants.

43

4.5

Challenges thrown up by Non Residential Nature of the University to Students

Table 4.5.1: Gender Preference of Landlords/landladies

Variables
Lateness arrival for lecture
Inadequate transportation to and fro the campus
Lack of conducive atmosphere for learning
Inability to experience campus life
Total
Source: Field survey, 2015

Frequency
28
4
46
12
90

Percentage
31.1
4.4
51.1
13.3
100

Students in a non-residential university are likely to face a lot of challenges as they journey to
and from the university. Considering the nature of housing facilities in Ago-Iwoye as already
espoused in this study and the traffic congestion along the university, what then are the
challenges faced? Lack of conducive atmosphere for studying was the major challenge faced by
students.
4.6

Analysis of Landlords/Ladies Preference in Letting out Accommodation

In an in-depth interview with a landlord, it was revealed that a prospective student pays a total
amount of sixty-eight thousand naira for a room apartment in a face-me-I-face-you self contain
dwelling (see picture 1 in the Appendix). A room costs two thousand naira per month. A
prospective student tenant pays for two years which amounts to forty-eight thousand naira
(48,000.00). In addition, another twenty thousand naira is paid as commission and agreement
fees. For a room in a flat which costs (4,000.00) per month, an advance payment of two years is
paid which amounts to Ninety six thousand naira only (96,000.00). Another twenty thousand is
paid for the agreement and commission. Therefore, a room in a flat cost a total amount of one
hundred and sixteen thousand naira for two years. However, when we compare the amount
charged for a room and the quality of facilities provided for the tenants (See picture 1 and 2 in
the Appendix).
44

It is obvious that the house owners are concerned more with profit than making life comfortable
for people (Oduwade, 2000).
Below is the breakdown of amount students pay to secure accommodation around the university
communities
For a room apartment - 48,000=00 (Forty eight thousand naira) is charged for two years.
20,000=00N (Twenty thousand Naira) is charged for commission.
10,000=00N (Ten Thousand Naira) is charged for damages, while, 10,000=00 (ten thousand
Naira is charged for electricity bill for a year.

45

CHAPTER FIVE
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1

Summary of Findings

This study was interested in examining the relationship between challenges of off-campus
residential accommodation among students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University. Specifically, it
sought to examine the strategies and forms of discriminatory practices experienced by students in
sourcing and solving their accommodation problems. It was also interested in finding out the
types of reciprocal relationships that exist between students - tenants and community
landlords/landladies. Lastly, the challenges thrown up by non residential nature of students was
also examined.
The findings were summarized below:

It was revealed that students secured their accommodation directly from the
landlord/landladies.

Though

the

landlords/landladies

did

not

give

them

the

accommodation based on their own merit, the presence of their parents/guardian was
required before accommodation can be given out for securing the accommodation. This
goes a long-way to show that Nigerians are still patriarchal in nature. Registered agents

were utilized by both gender, but mostly by male students.

The study also revealed that landlords/landladies preferred female students to male
students. There were lots of reasons behind their preference. These include: economic
motive, fear of cultism by male students and ability of female students keeping to the

terms of agreement more than male students.

The study also revealed that the students prefer on-campus residential accommodation to
off-campus residential accommodation.
46

This study also found significant discriminatory practices among the students. They
mentioned religion, gender bias and sexual harassment and discriminatory rent charges,

as the major forms of expressions of discriminatory practices they had experienced.

This study revealed that the relationship between student-tenants and landlord was
cordial to some extent, but a significant level was conflictual. The conflictual relationship
was partly due to these discriminatory practices they had experienced. Male and female
students experienced mental disturbances in their hostels. These mental disturbances
include, neighbour disturbances, domestic violence and incessant increase in house-rent.

5.2

Conclusion

Based on the above findings, the study concluded that there was a reciprocal impact between the
community landlords/landladies and Olabisi Onabanjo University. Jobs were created for some
category of people (i.e. the registered agents) in the community. The university would do well to
formalize this potential and incipient reciprocal outlook so that students interests could be better
protected. In view of the foregoing, therefore, the following recommendations are therefore
being suggested.
5.3

Recommendations

There is need for the university to ameliorate students accommodation hardships. The
university may do well by sourcing for buildings in the communities which can be taken

on behalf of the students as students hostel.

University, through the Bale and landlords/landladies associations may get the house
owners registered with the University with the aim of acting as proxy between the
students and the house-owners. While incoming students should be encouraged to seek
accommodation from registered house-owners with the university.

47

It is also important for the university to inspect quality of facilities available in these

houses that are registered by house-owners.

The issue of sexual harassment of female students by the landlords needs to be examined.
More education is needed for the students especially the incoming students during
orientation. It is pertinent even as of now to have a forum where students can come and
complain of their grievances. All students in the university must be adequately informed
of such forum. Landlords also need some sensitization in this regard.

48

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51

APPENDIX I
MOSHOOD ABIOLA POLYTECHNIC
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND VALUATION
Dear Respondents,
The researcher is a student of the above named institution conducting a research on Challenges
of Off-campus Residential Accommodation in Nigerian Tertiary Institution in partial fulfillment
of the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) in Estate Management. I assure you that any
information given shall be used for academic purpose and strictly confidential.
Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours faithfully,
Name: ____________________________
Phone: ____________________________

SECTION A: (Bio Data)

1. Gender: Male ( )
Female (
2. Place of Residence: Idode (
)
Ibipe (
)
Imosu (
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

)
Imere (
Imososi (

)
)

Isamuro (
Igan (

)
)

Age Group: 18 24 years (

)
25 30 years (
)
Above 30 years (
)
Studentship Status: Old (
)
Intermediate (
)
New student (
)
Faculty: Management Science (
)
Faculty of Social Sciences (
)
Accommodation Type: Rented (
)
Family House (
)
Rent Charges: N2000 5000 (
)
N6000 10,000 (
)
Others please specify ___________________________

SECTION B: Strategies Employed By Students in Sourcing and Solving Accommodation

Challenges
8. Strategies in sourcing and solving accommodation needs: Through accommodation from the
landlords/landladies (
)
Transfer from other students (
)
Through
registered agents (
)
Squatting with friends (
)
9. Which gender do landlords/landladies prefer in letting out accommodation? Male (
)
Female (
) Both Male/ Female (
)
10. Do you prefer off-campus residential accommodation to on-campus? Yes (
)
No ( )

52

SECTION C: Gender Experiences of Discriminatory Practices and coping strategies

11. Have you experienced any form of discriminatory practices as a result of living off campus?
Yes (
)
No (
)
12. If yes, please indicate such form discriminatory practices. You may tick as many as possible.
Finance ( )
Sexual Harassment (
)
Religious Bias (
)
Gender Bias (
)
13. How do you cope with these discriminatory practices? Look for another accommodation ( )
Succumb to these practices (
)
Report to the University (
)
No Response (
)
14. Disturbances experienced in your residential accommodation. You may tick as many as
possible. Domestic Violence (
)
Neighbours Disturbances ( ) Increased House
Rent (
)
Incidence of robbery (
)
I dont know (
)
15. Relationship with landlord/landladies: Cordial (
)
Conflictual (
)
Indifference (
)
I dont know (
)
SECTION D: Challenges thrown up by the non residential nature of the university to the
students
16. Indicate challenges faced as non-residential University students: You may tick as many as
possible.
Late arrival for lectures (
)
Inadequate transportation to & fro the campus ( )
Lack of conducive atmosphere for studying (
Inability to experience campus life (

17. What do you think could be done to solve the above mentioned problems? _______________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

53

APPENDIX II
MOSHOOD ABIOLA POLYTECHNIC
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND VALUATION
INTERVIEW GUIDE (LANDLORDS/LANDLADIES)
PREFERENCE OF LANDLORDS/LANDLADIES IN LETTING OUT
ACOMMODATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Name: _______________________________
Gender: ______________________________
Do you let out your accommodation to students of OOU? Yes ( )
No ( )
How much is your rent charges per month? _______________________________________
Which of the gender do you prefer in letting out accommodation? Male (
)
Female (
)
6. If male, what are the reasons for your preferences? _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. If female, what are your reasons for your preferences? _______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

54

APPENDIX III

Plate 1: One of the hostels visited by the researcher in OOU neighborhood

55

APPENDIX IV

Plate 2: One of the students hostels in the OOU neighborhood

56

APPENDIX V

Plate 3: Another students hostel in the neighborhood

57