Do Challenges Make or Mar Undergraduate Students in Nigeria?

By: Emmanuel Omolayo.

No doubt, undergraduate education is a critical phase in the academic journey of every student. This is where lasting personal growth and career development take place, a place that breeds potential medical doctors, lawyers, architects, chefs and the rest. Here, students acquire relevant skills, knowledge and proficiency necessary to thrive in a world that is increasingly competitive and complex.

However, students at the undergraduate level are faced with numerous challenges capable of crushing purpose, dreams and the impact of education. Financial difficulties, for example, are a significant and recurring challenge that many students often have to deal with. It's a burden on students, parents and sponsors. The high tuition fees charged by tertiary institutions can be very exorbitant; students from humble backgrounds struggle to continue their education, striving to survive alongside coping with academic workload. A typical student from a low-income home who finds it difficult to pay tuition fees, feed and have access to basic resources for student life may eventually drop out of frustration. Also, the possibility of having good grades amidst financial burnout is a growing concern.

Simultaneously, poor infrastructural facilities are another major challenge. Allegedly, most universities in Nigeria are living in their past glory, with evidence of outdated libraries, poorly equipped laboratories, and poor health services. An outdated library is almost irrelevant for student use; it becomes difficult to find easy access to materials for assignments, projects and research work. Also, a poorly equipped laboratory will affect students’ skill set, competency and level of experience. Poor health services and facilities in universities endanger the lives of presumably millions of undergraduate students, yet students still hope for a significant change.

Additionally, the fear of unemployment is a challenge. Several university courses are gradually becoming irrelevant today. The job market is competitive and scarce in employment possibilities. Graduates who lack the necessary skills to match the demands of the current job market will hardly secure a job. These uncertainties are a big fear most students are battling with, and may result in poor academic performance, mental health issues and low motivation. It's very unfortunate that even after studying for an average of four years, students still have to question the relevance of their degree and the educational system. These challenges are deeply rooted in the educational system of Nigeria, causing drastic effects on students’ experiences and turnout.

Are you an undergraduate in a Nigerian university? What kind of story do you wish to tell after school? Cassava flakes or flexy life? Do you think certain pain and hardship are necessary before a level of growth, self-discovery, and resilience can take place? Or do you think education itself is tough, and potential solutions should be implemented in the Nigerian educational sector?