By: Abdullah Oladejo

Upon gaining admission into the University of Ibadan, Adeniyi Ridwan, a student of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Faculty of  Education,  made an unconventional decision. Unlike many students who prefer on-campus accommodation, Ridwan chose to live in Agbowo, an off-campus community near the University of Ibadan. The decision, according to Ridwan, stemmed from his desire to maintain mental wellness. However, his expectations would later be dashed by the challenges that come with off-campus living.

Lamenting the state of his apartment, where he shares a room with three other students, he said, “I value  peace of mind. Living in a small room with three different people has not been convenient for me. It could have been better if we were two.”

The situation, for Ridwan, has been worsened by the erratic power supply in his residential area, Agbowo, which affects the operation of his power-dependent business. Equally troubling, he said, is the noise pollution from nearby religious organizations, which hampers his concentration while studying.

“Here in Agbowo, you can’t read peacefully in your room. The challenges are serious. The noise from religious centers makes studying difficult,” he lamented. Frustrated by the situation, he charged the management of the University of Ibadan and other relevant stakeholders to address the persistent off-campus issues affecting Uites.

Living off campus has increasingly become a necessity among the University of Ibadan students, especially for the returning students, as on-campus accommodation is not guaranteed after the first academic year.

Students residing in off-campus communities such as Agbowo, Ajibode Extension, and Samonda often face a myriad of untold challenges. The challenges for those who can tell include noise pollution from nearby religious organizations, erratic electricity supply, deplorable living conditions, and exploitation of students by house agents.

In March 2025, an editorial by IndyPress highlighted issue of extortion targeting UI students living off-campus. Similarly, a feature story by IndyPress in June 2024  examined the deteriorating environmental conditions in the Agbowo community.

For some students, settling in an off-campus apartment is not a wish but an alternative to the limited residential accommodation within the university. Despite the apparent necessity to build more public hostels, the university continues to lease land for private hostels, which many students cannot afford.

It was never the plan of Oval Mercy, a student from the Faculty of Arts, to live in Agbowo. But due to her failed efforts to secure on-campus accommodation, she was compelled to settle in the community.

 

She said, “Initially, I did not want to live in Agbowo. But I later had no other option because I couldn’t secure accommodation within the campus.”

Mercy’s experience is similar to those of UI students who resort to off-campus apartments due to futile attempts to secure on-campus accommodation.

Mercy, like Ridwan, highlighted several challenges affecting her daily off-campus life, including the arduous trek to school, transportation concerns, and frequent power outages. she added, “There are many challenges. Coming from home to school is stressful. Sometimes, there would be no light and water.”

“Management should make at least 80% of students get access to campus accommodation. It would really reduce expenses and stress,” she advised.

It is, however, worth noting that not all students prefer living on campus. Pelumi Ojo is one such student. Pelu explained that it had been her longtime plan to live off campus even before gaining admission to the university. “I didn’t want to deal with adapting to roommates or using stoves for cooking in the hostel,” she said.

According to her, the experience of living off campus has not been really challenging, having prepared herself for the realities that come with it.

However, she told IndyPress that her off-campus experience has been marred by issues related to morning commutes and frequent power outages. “Sometimes I have to rush to school because I’m running late. The light issues also come up now and then,” she stated.

‘It Seems Like a Norm, So I Just Go With the Flow”- A Student’s Perceptive 

For some returning students, the uncertainty in securing a bed space prompts the choice to seek off-campus accommodation. For example, Rachel Odeh was unable to secure on-campus housing in her second year. Consequently, she was impelled to resort to off-campus accommodation. She pointed to strict hostel rules as another reason for her choice. “It was my last resort. I wasn’t given a hostel space. At the 200 level, it’s even advisable to start searching for accommodation outside,” she explained.

Rachel also listed several challenges she encounters: “The distance is a problem, especially when I don’t have money for transportation. I’m often under pressure rushing to class. We struggle to get water, and it’s not even clean. Sometimes, we don’t have light for a whole week.”

When asked if she has ever reported these concerns to the concerned authorities or the Students’ Union leadership, Rachel explained, “It seems like a norm, so I just go with the flow.”

Mercy further told IndyPress that she’s unaware of the appropriate authorities to report her off-campus concerns to.

Yousuphen Hovehn Horeb, the current Assistant General Secretary of the CLA, also shared her off-campus experience.

For her, the decision to live off campus was due to the incompatibility of living with her roommates and the need for privacy.

“I had a rough time at the 100 level with my roommates. I ended up staying off campus more often than in the hostel,” she said.

Highlighting her off-campus struggles, she explained, “The laziness of commuting to class every morning, the stress of finding a keke or cab, and then discovering that classes have been canceled after all the hassle. Sometimes, I have to stay on campus until evening to attend rescheduled classes or meetings.”

She further raised concerns she believes the school management and Students’ Union leadership should address. “Getting accommodation off campus is not easy; it depends on your budget and preferences. Prices shoot up every new session. Some students live in almost dilapidated buildings.”

“Although the electricity supply is fair, it becomes unreliable during exams. The Student Union should timely help students resolve accommodation concerns and address the overbearing of hostel executives and porters, who sometimes exploit students with unnecessary fines.”

“The school should ensure that transport is available from as early as 6:30 a.m. to help students make it to class on time,” she added.

12th Assembly Speaks

In an interview with IndyPress, a co-opt member of the University of Ibadan Students’ Representative Council(12th Assembly), Sulaimon Afeez, who is saddled with the constitutional mandate to represent the welfare of students who may be least represented, admitted his responsibility.

“Our office is meant to represent interests that may not be well represented like those of foreign students and off-campus residents,” he stated.

Mr. Afeez further noted that upon assuming office, he tried to reach off-campus students through his WhatsApp status.

“I was the first to be co-opted, as others weren’t present at the time. I put out a WhatsApp notice informing off-campus students to reach out to me with their concerns, ” he said.

While all the off-campus students interviewed by IndyPress claimed to have never heard of the existence of co-option officers and their constitutional functions, Mr. Afeez acknowledged the ongoing challenges in reaching the students.

He explained, “Students living off campus, foreign students, and others with less representation fall under our moral duty. I always advocate for their rights,”

The challenges faced by the University of Ibadan students living off campus, ranging from issues related to transportation,  accommodation concerns and erratic electricity, demand an urgent and institutional response. As demanded by some of these students who spoke to IndyPress, It is important that the management of the University of Ibadan and the Students’ Union leadership led by  Odedele Covenant and other stakeholders address the challenges of these students.

It is only fair that the co-opt members of the 12th Assembly, as saddled with the constitutional mandate to administer the welfare of students who may not be well represented, treat it as paramount to address the concerns affecting this neglected community.