While access to safe housing remains a cornerstone of academic success, students at Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI), face a crisis threatening their education and well-being.
Exorbitant rents and squalid living conditions have created an auntenable situation, demanding urgent intervention from Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration.
Without swift action, this neglect risks undermining both the institution’s mission and Ekiti State’s future.
Landlords near the university currently charge between ₦250,000 and ₦350,000 for single-room apartments—a figure far exceeding the financial reality of most students. Many families already stretch limited resources to cover tuition, leaving little for housing.
Consequently, students endure overcrowded rooms, crumbling structures, and hazardous environments plagued by leaking roofs, broken toilets, and unsanitary conditions. These hardships not only jeopardize health but also erode academic focus, forcing some to abandon their studies altogether.
This crisis transcends individual suffering, exposing systemic failures in Ekiti’s housing policies.
Unregulated markets enable landlords to exploit vulnerable students, while absent oversight permits substandard housing to proliferate.
Local businesses suffer as well, since frustrated students often avoid patronizing nearby vendors or transfer to other institutions.
The university’s reputation as a center of innovation dims when its scholars battle preventable living crises.
Students have proposed clear, actionable solutions.
First, the government must implement rent control policies to prevent price gouging.
While landlords deserve fair returns, exploitative practices cannot persist unchecked.
Second, rigorous inspections should enforce minimum housing standards, penalizing those offering derelict units.
Third, structured dialogues between stakeholders—students, landlords, officials—must address grievances and foster collaboration.
These steps offer immediate relief while laying groundwork for sustainable reform.
Simultaneously, long-term strategies must emerge. Public-private partnerships could develop affordable, purpose-built accommodations near campus, combining safety with modern amenities.
Universities might negotiate bulk leasing agreements with ethical landlords, securing discounted rates for students.
Additionally, targeted subsidies or interest-free loans could assist low-income families, ensuring housing access aligns with academic potential.
Governor Oyebanji’s administration now faces a pivotal test.
Prioritizing this issue would demonstrate commitment to education and youth empowerment—values central to Ekiti’s development agenda.
Conversely, inaction risks normalizing a culture of neglect, alienating future leaders and stifling regional progress.
The students’ plight mirrors broader societal inequities; addressing it would signal that leadership prioritizes people over complacency.
Ikere Ekiti’s landlords and officials must recognize that thriving universities require thriving students.
Safe housing is not a luxury but a prerequisite for academic excellence.
Every rusted roof and inflated rent payment chips away at the promise of education as a societal equalizer.
The state government holds the power—and responsibility to halt this decline.
Ultimately, the choice is clear: either invest in students today or reap the consequences of their disillusionment tomorrow.
By regulating rents, enforcing housing standards, and fostering inclusive dialogue, Ekiti can transform this crisis into an opportunity.
The time for empty promises has passed; only decisive action will preserve the university’s legacy and secure Nigeria’s intellectual future.
