By Khalifa Usman
400-level student
The economic situation in Nigeria has been going from bad to worse. There is no price stability. Inflation is rising drastically, the prices of goods keep multiplying, and people’s income is not increasing.
Ironically, when prices go up in Nigeria, instead of praying for deflation, people end up praying that inflation doesn’t get worse. This economic instability has put many people in a state of pessimistic hopelessness.
If a business tycoon or billionaire can complain about the price of things, what about innocent students, especially those living on campus? They have every right to cry out. The truth is, this economic quagmire hits students the hardest, particularly those in universities.
1. School Fees
Millions of people apply for admission every year. Most of them work hard to pass WAEC, NECO, and JAMB. But because of school fees, not all of them can enroll.
Many grow up with enthusiasm and zeal for education. They aspire to change their communities and build brighter futures. But sadly, school fees remain an insurmountable obstacle that cripples their ambition early — at the second stage of their journey.
From here, the destiny of many students changes. Some continue studying at home. Others go into marketing or commerce. Some fall into a life that degrades their reputation and deviates from societal values. If they’re lucky, they find another path that still benefits them and society. But they lose their main goal: school.
Many students have stopped dreaming of becoming undergraduates because of the exorbitant cost of school fees, especially in private universities.
Imagine a time when education was free. People were even compelled to go to school, and sometimes they were paid allowances that pushed them to perform well. An educated person was venerated because education was rare and the government was committed to it. The government sent people abroad to study. There was infrastructure, and teachers were employed on merit and paid well enough to teach properly.
Later, the government removed free education and started sending their own children abroad. That was a clear sign of negligence and nonchalance toward education.
Even with less government support back then, both poor and rich people could still go to school because the economy was better. Today, only a few can afford it, because the economic system has deteriorated and education gets virtually zero concern from the government.
2. Cost of Survival on Campus
After students are admitted and pay their fees, the next battle is survival — the most important part of the journey.
As a student, you need three fundamental things:
The painful reality is that some students cannot afford two meals a day. Instead of focusing on memorizing formulas or understanding theories in the library, they spend the whole time thinking: how will I eat today? How much do I have in my account? Will it last till the end of the semester? Poor students.
Economic inflation is restricting so many students from eating properly.
3. Access to Technology
As the world evolves with technology, students must keep up. Apart from a good Android phone, you now need a laptop, computer, palmtop, or tablet to streamline your studies.
But because of the economic quagmire and how drastically prices have risen, some students don’t even have a good Android phone — let alone other devices to simplify their work.
There was a time when students performed well without these devices. But now, with almost everything shifting from offline to online, digital devices have become the most fundamental tool for academic success.
If the economy were stable, schools would also have provided more digital facilities or updated the ones they already have.
Conclusion
The economic instability in our country has become a major obstruction to progress in education. It affects students in countless ways: school fees, cost of survival, and access to technology.
Addressing this economic instability will significantly improve students’ performance and capacity, and make education easier and more accessible for all.
Khalifa Usman is a 400-level student. He writes about campus life, education, and the realities Nigerian students face every day.