Being A Student in Today’s Brutal Nigeria
By Fatima Musa Muhammad
Beyond lectures, assignments and examinations, many students are dealing with rising living costs, expensive transportation, unreliable electricity, costly internet access and the pressure to succeed.
The cost of living is perhaps one of the biggest challenges. Food, accommodation, transportation, school fees and learning materials have become increasingly difficult for many families to afford.
A student who has to travel to school every day may spend a large part of their allowance on transportation alone.
According to UNICEF and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics, 97 percent of households surveyed reported rising food prices, showing just how widespread the pressure on household budgets has become. (UNICEF)
Food insecurity can also affect a student’s ability to learn. It is difficult to concentrate on a lecture, prepare for an examination or complete an assignment when basic needs are not being met.
For some students, education is therefore not only about academic performance but also about trying to survive financially while staying in school.
Another challenge is access to electricity and the internet. Students increasingly depend on smartphones and laptops for research, assignments, online resources and communication.
Yet UNICEF reports that only 39 percent of Nigerian students aged 5 to 24 had internet access at home in its education data, while only 10 percent had access to a computer at home. The gap is even greater for students from poorer households. (UNICEF)
This digital divide matters because education is changing. A student with a reliable internet connection and personal computer can access journals, online courses and educational materials more easily than a student who has to search for a place with electricity, borrow a device or spend money on data every time they need to study.
Academic pressure adds another layer to the problem. Students are expected to attend lectures, meet deadlines, maintain good grades and prepare for examinations, sometimes while dealing with financial difficulties and responsibilities outside school.
The pressure can be overwhelming, especially when students feel that their future depends heavily on their academic performance.
The situation shows why supporting students should be treated as an investment, not simply as assistance. Scholarships and student financial aid should be expanded.
Universities should provide affordable accommodation and basic welfare support, while governments and relevant institutions should work towards more reliable electricity, affordable internet access and better transportation.
There are already efforts to improve educational access. UNICEF reported that its Nigeria Learning Passport expanded to more than two million users in 2025, providing digital learning resources to young Nigerians.
Such initiatives show that technology can help bridge educational gaps when students can actually access it. (UNICEF)
Nigerian students are not asking for an easy life. They are asking for a fair opportunity to learn, grow and build their future. If Nigeria truly wants a better tomorrow, then the young people preparing to build that tomorrow must be supported today.
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