Surviving Versus Living: The Silent Struggles of University of Ibadan Students

 

Being a student today is no longer about just getting an education or passing in flying colours; it is about survival. Behind every lecture hall filled with students, from the seemingly outgoing students to even the most studious ones, are silent battles of exhaustion, anxiety and the constant struggle to stay afloat. It is no longer just about the courses and studying, it is in the everyday life we all live. The scramble for even basic necessities such as food, light, transport and accommodation forces any average student to think less about academic excellence and more about how to survive each day.

For many students of the University of Ibadan, this reality is getting all too familiar. A place that should be a platform for learning and self-development is slowly becoming a test of endurance as there is the rising cost of living which has made even the simplest of routines difficult. Balanced feeding is no longer guaranteed or has completely left the equation, and what used to be small daily expenses now require students carefully sitting down to calculate and sacrifice on a scale of preference. Transport fares continuously rise by the day, electricity is unreliable, and both campus and off-campus accommodation remain a constant barrier to comfortably settling down.

As a result, students are pushed into this cycle of hustling here and there. Many of them have to juggle lectures with side jobs and deadlines, not out of ambition alone, but out of necessity. The time that should be spent studying, resting, or engaging in personal development activities is instead spent trying to secure the next meal or meet the most basic needs. The idea of the “ideal student” who is focused, well-rested, and capable of any academic comeback now feels like an unrealistic expectation.

Beyond the physical strain lies an even heavier burden: the mental and emotional toll. Right before resumption, most students have to fight tooth and nail to secure a space in university halls of residence or do their best to avoid extravagant fees for off-campus accommodation. Then, there’s the actual resumption: juggling loads, paying dues and school fees, signing forms and printing receipts, stocking up on food and other supplies, meeting new faces and roommates in some cases, all the while keeping up with classes, attendance and assignments can in fact, make some lose the struggle. What is often overlooked is that this pressure does not ease as the semester progresses; it only shifts, and in many cases, intensifies.

For many of us, tertiary schooling thus becomes a constant routine of balancing where one small mistake can feel like everything is falling apart. There is a quiet exhaustion that many students carry, one that is often hidden behind laughter, social media posts, and everyday interactions. The pressure to succeed academically, flaunt BOL results and inspire other colleagues while navigating burnouts creates a constant sense of anxiety. Yet, in a campus culture where struggle is normalised, these challenges are very rarely acknowledged. Students are expected to “survive”, “adjust” and more recently, adhere to the slogan “Yakubu manage”.

This raises an important question: what exactly is the university experience? Education is meant to be a period of growth, exploration, and intellectual development. However, when survival takes priority over learning, the very purpose of education is undermined. A system that forces students to constantly worry about basic needs cannot fully support their academic and personal potential. Therefore, it is important to recognise that this is not just an individual struggle, it is a reality that most students face.

From lecture halls to hostels, there is a shared experience of trying to make ends meet while keeping up with the academic demands of Nigeria’s first and best university. Ignoring this reality does not make it disappear, it only deepens the gap between what education should be and what it has become. Students of the University of Ibadan deserve more than an experience defined by survival. They deserve an environment that supports not just their academic goals, but their well-being and growth as individuals. Until this becomes a priority, we must continue to ask: are we truly educating students or simply teaching them how to endure?