Management of Student Welfare Services and Educational Stability of Undergraduates in Nigerian Universities
Abstract
Transitioning from high school to university is one of the challenges undergraduates face when navigating their studies. This study assessed the management of welfare services and determined the level of students’ educational stability in Nigerian universities. The research was based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, providing insights into how students’ welfare needs impact on their educational stability. The study utilized descriptive research survey design. Two universities, namely Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Oduduwa University (OUI) in Nigeria, were purposively selected for the study. A sample of 500 students was chosen from six out of the thirteen faculties in OAU and two out of the four colleges in OUI using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study revealed that while clear policies guide the management of students’ affairs in the universities, there is inadequate engagement with the students by the authorities in managing students' welfare services, leading to student unrest at times. The study recommends the necessity for proper engagement and more responsive efforts to address the welfare needs of students by relevant authorities.
Downloads
References
Adams, R., Jones, D., Brown, E., & Green, F. (2017). The importance of providing tailored support to help students navigate challenges and maintain their educational trajectories. Journal of College Student Development, 58(1), 25–36.
Adebayo, A. O. (2020). Perceived impact of students’ welfare services on academic performance of undergraduates in Nigerian universities. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 9(9), 301–306.
Alani, R. A., Okunola, P. O., & Subair, S. O. (2010). Situation analysis of students’ welfare services in universities in South-western Nigeria: Implications for students’ personnel management practice. US-China Education Review, 7(10), 42–50. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED514806
Aluede, O., Jimoh, B., Agwinede, B. O., & Omoregie, E. O. (2005). Student unrest in Nigerian universities: Looking back and forward. Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 17–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09718923.2005.11892454
Brown, D., & Green, E. (2019). The significance of transparent, student-centered, and collaborative management approaches to student welfare services. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(1), 3–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09718923.2005.11892454
Cornish, C. J. (2019). Student welfare: Complexity, dilemmas and contradictions. Research in Post-Compulsory Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2019.1596413
Fasanmi, S. A. (2022). Management of student affair services as correlate of student unrest in Nigerian universities. In B. I. Omodan & C. T. Tsotetsi (Eds.), A compendium of response to student unrest in Africa universities.
Fasanmi, S. A., & Sadi, S. (2023c). The social harms of abuse of academics in Nigerian universities: Failed ethical leadership. Studies in Learning and Teaching, 4(3), 644–655. https://doi.org/10.46627/silet
Ige, A. M. (2014). The challenges of being a student of any public tertiary institution in Nigeria of today. Journal of Studies in Education, 4, 128–141. https://doi.org/10.5296/jse.v4i1.1261
Ibrahim, S. A., Musa, S., & Ojo, O. A. (2021). The impact of welfare services on the academic performance of undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(3), 22–26.
Johnson, J., & Williams, J. (2019). The call for comprehensive investigations into the multifaceted challenges students encounter. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 56(2), 13–22.
Jones, J., & Smith, S. (2016). The positive association between student support services and academic success. Review of Higher Education, 39(3), 335–356.
Ludeman, R. B., & Schreiber, B. (2020). Student affairs and services in higher education: Global foundations, issues, and best practices (3rd ed.). International Association of Student Affairs and Services.
Luizhan, Z. J. (2022). A questionnaire on relative deprivation of university students and its application in measuring mental health. Frontiers in Psychology.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346
McLeod, S. A. (2018). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
Odebode, A. A. (2019). Factors responsible for students’ unrest in Nigerian tertiary institutions: Implications for counselling practices. Mimbar Pendidikan: Jurnal Indonesia untuk Kajian Pendidikan, 4(2), 93–102. https://doi.org/10.17509/mimbardik.v4i2.22199
Ogundele, O. J., & Akinola, O. O. (2020). Application of technology in the management of students’ welfare services in Nigerian universities. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15(15), 214–223.
Ogunwale, O. J., Akanbi, T. O., & Olaoye, A. O. (2020). The impact of e-learning on the academic performance of undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 11(3), 17–22.
Okorie, C. C., & Agu, B. C. (2021). The role of technology in the management of student welfare services in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(1), 74–80.
Omodan, B. I. (2020). Deconstructing social unrest as a response to redefine strained relationships between students and university authorities. International Journal of Higher Education, 9(6), 178–189. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v9n6p178
Omotayo, O. D., & Ogunkola, A. O. (2021). The role of student unionism in the management of student welfare services in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 12(3), 27–33.
Omotayo, O. D., & Olanrewaju, A. A. (2018). The influence of financial assistance on the academic performance of undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. Journal of Education and Practice, 9(1), 37–43.
Oyebamiji, O. A., & Olaleye, O. A. (2018). The impact of library facilities and internet services on the academic performance of undergraduates in Nigerian universities. Library Philosophy and Practice, 1774.
Smith, S., & Johnson, J. (2020). The need for more holistic and comprehensive welfare services for students. Higher Education Quarterly, 74(2), 123–136.
Smith, A., Jones, B., Brown, C., & Green, D. (2018). The importance of diverse participant representation for robust outcomes in research. Journal of Research Methodology, 21(1), 1–10.
Subair, S. T., & Adeniyi, A. O. (2021). Assessment of availability, accessibility and adequacy of hostel facilities in Nigerian universities. International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE), 8(7), 17–25. https://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0807003
Sahara Reporters. (2021, October 1). Obafemi Awolowo University students block major roads, demand justice for deceased colleague. https://www.saharareporter.com
Syakur, A., Sudrajad, W., Winurati, S., & Tilwani, S. A. (2023). The motivation of students and their exposure to learning loss after the pandemic. Studies in Learning and Teaching, 4(3), 622–633. https://doi.org/10.46627/silet.v4i3.348
Tetteh, E. S., & Osabutey, E. K. (2019). The role of student welfare services in the academic performance of students in tertiary institutions in Ghana. International Journal of Higher Education, 8(7), 134–142.
Walker, M. (2008). Working with college students & student development theory primer. https://uncw.edu/studentaffairs/committees/pdc/edresources
White, G., & Brown, B. (2018). Potential biases associated with self-reported data in student research. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 10(1), 1–10.
Yusuf, M. A (2022). Students’ welfare services and educational stability in public universities in Oyo State, Nigeria. OUSL Journal, 17(2), 29-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v17i2.7579
Yami, L. (2023). Student educational resilience while online studying during the COVID-19 period. Studies in Learning and Teaching, 4(1), 457–468. https://doi.org/10.46627/silet.v4i3.216
Copyright (c) 2025 Studies in Learning and Teaching
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
