Sam’s Hangout #110 - “HARDSHIP IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS”

Financial situations are usually a big issue when it comes to tertiary education.

I can say that if you have your financial needs catered for by someone, so you don't have to worry about it, your academic performance will most likely be good.

But when you're struggling financially, it's takes a huge toll on you as a student. Emotionally, physically and every other way possible, you will struggle. Most times, people look for side gigs to help themselves financially, but this only means they would allocate the time they would have used for academics to that side gig.

The end result most times is a drastic decline in academic performance. Ultimately, you find people just looking for a way to graduate irrespective of what CGPA or grades they graduate with.

1. How does financial hardship affects students....
   I think I have some things to say and my experience to share. Because finance and academics can not in any way be separated. So, after a long illness that forced me to let go of school, I decided to go back, since I feel continuing my education is the best thing for me, I couldn't work or do stressful stuffs, and eve though school itself is stressful I knew I would find my way around. At this time when I returned to school, my parents and siblings were still struggling to recover from the debts and financial issues my illness brought their way..and in all honesty it was weighing down on me too, while I was concerned about the various money I was to pay in school, their own focus was to be paying back debts and make sure I was buying my pills.

And like I said earlier, it weighed me down big time, I almost regretted coming back to school. Because now, my health should be my priority and not my education, na person wey dey alive dey go school...and that was how I began to miss classes, test and all, I began to avoid people too and my grades dropped, because I can't just stop thinking and that was getting too much as well.

What I'm saying in essence is that, if there's a comma with finance and you're in school, it will definitely affect your performance and the ay you relate with others. Finance can change the whole school experience...that is how powerful it is.

1. Can students still thrive despite pressing financial struggles?

Huhm, this is huge but I will like to say, yes, they can, even though it's not easy, it still sums up back to such students.

After a while in school when I saw how pressing things were, and it's obvious I can't keep depending on my parents and siblings who have their lives too, I went my way to learn customization work, it is less stressful and my boss who was a student as well is a very understanding person. He even allowed me to tell people that I now make frames, magic mugs, throw pillows and the likes then even though I was still learning and very new to it... Best part is, he will allow me take the money. And that was how I began to do that together with my academics, he made sure he helped me out a lot and guide me till I could do things myself. And in a student area, the work was booming to some extent, that it began to affect my academics, that was how my boss called me back to attention.

And this was why I said yes, it is possible. This boss of mine who was also a student is a very talented person, he does electrical works, he paints, he does furniture, he repairs and do swapping phones business together with that customization work, still he never allowed it to mess with his reading/class time. He told me all these side gigs are good and can help me, but it needs to be controlled, tha the works shouldn't be controlling me. And that day,he said something... "You're not doing one quarter of what I do, so learn to control it, else you will chase money and not only lose your studies, but you will lose yourself/focus." And I held that, because he really does not joke with his academics despite that he does all those things and even owns a shop, he opens and closes when he likes. To crown it all, he graduated with a distinction.... So you see

In conclusion, balance is key. Don't ignore money issues, at the same time don't abandon your academics. With support, skills and a high level of discipline it is very very possible to make ends meet and still succeed academically...

@afrikens
@chefqueen
@van.illa
@betheloji12
@nkemakonam89
.........
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Take mic... 🎤
Thanks for having me

🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃

We go again this week 🫡

Good afternoon everyone ☺️
TGIF 📿😁
Biggy welcome to y'all 🙏

Now, do well to stop by 🫣

@afrikens
@betheloji12
@amara24
@dhavey
@chequeen
@van.illa

Just so you know....
Sitting, passing by, walking, standing, bending, looking, and reading is not free...
I'm in charge of collecting the funds...
The ground is slippery too, we just finish mopping, so abeg off your slippers and shoes outside..

Ire o

Happy weekend my people 💕

Imagine a student who is going for lectures with an empty stomach and has no plan for what to eat, a student who hasn't payed is departmental fee talk less or school fees or his course handouts, I have not even talked about data or transport fare or even money they didn't budget for. Trust me, all these will have effect on any student and it will definitely slow such student down academically. They said it's the strength of the inside that we use to carry the strength of the outside. If any student is in that position I mentioned, I'm sure their minds won't be on book, they will definitely be calculating how to survive. What I know is that if some basic needs are not accessible to students, they will be affected and might have equally fall apart.

And on the side gig question, that is not new because I know a lot of students back then and even now doing that..I have a lot of them on my WhatsApp selling one or two which is absolutely good especially in this economy that we find ourselves. So for the latter, I'll say they should not be discouraged, in fact, if any student have the ability and can carry on with the two without one stopping eachother, they should because at the end of the day, the job outside now is by who Sabi person, and the earlier they handle their side gigs well, the better. My small two percent on this.

Honestly, this weekend's topic made me remember a girl who lost her dad recently and the dad was the sole provider for academics funding including all allowances or living expenses.
Unfortunately for her, she was exposed to a luxury way of living by her dad and this is why I termed it as been unfortunate:

• The mum isn't buoyant enough to take up that role and she has since divorced the man (though verbally). It took her 2 days to provide the girl with 3,500naira only to eat
• Father's family had seized all properties remaining after the late man's sickness expenses

So there's absolutely gonna be a huge bridge between the life she once lived and the one that is to come. So howwwww won't such girl be affected in the course of this so-called academics?

You know, It is easier when you're matured in age or thinking while entering into higher institution and you've always known that there are days it may not boom nicely if it is booming presently and you can always handle these financial crisis by taking up some side jobs IF YOU HAVE THE MENTAL AND STRENGTH CAPACITY or just manage with the provision you have from home and ensure you don't end up suffering in two places by failing in your academics again

But generally speaking, an unhappy mind is an unhappy and malfunctioning brain 😹.... PEACE OUT✌️

@van.illa @abdul-qudus @chefqueen oya come and shook mouth
@therichking where have you been?
@marsdave I'm here. I've marked attendance

Good day all...the hardship in Niaja institutions is LEGENDARY!!!

Happy Weekend, Everyone 🌹

THE HARSH REALITY

In the early 1990s,when I gained admission into the University of Benin (UNIBEN),pursuing a university education felt accessible even for students from humble backgrounds like mine.My school fees were just ₦6,500, and accommodation(campus) was around ₦5,000 per session.The primary obligation my parents placed on me was simple: study hard and earn good grades.Pocket money was often limited,but the low cost of basics like feeding, transport, and learning materials made it manageable.Education at that time was not yet a privilege reserved for the wealthy.

Fast forward to today, and the situation has changed dramatically and drastically. In 2025/2026, school fees in federal universities like UNIBEN, UNILAG, UI, and others have risen significantly. For fresh students at UNIBEN, total charges (depending on faculty) can range from ₦170,000 to ₦190,000 or more, while returning students pay ₦150,000–₦170,000.Accommodation in school hostels,where available, now costs between ₦12,000 (basic) to over ₦100,000 in newer or premium halls. Private hostels,off-campus are even more expensive,often running into tens of thousands monthly when you add electricity, water, and security. In private universities,fees easily climb into hundreds of thousands or millions per session.

This shift has made tertiary education feel increasingly like a luxury for children of the rich.Parents,whether supporting students in federal, state, or private institutions,struggle under the weight of inflation, rising living costs, and stagnant incomes.For a student whose parents are not financially buoyant, the pressure is immense.How do you concentrate on lectures, assignments, or exams when you're worried about the next meal,unpaid hostel fees,or buying handouts and textbooks? Many students miss classes, skip practicals, or battle constant anxiety.

How Financial Hardship Affects Academic Performance, Psychological Well-being, Behaviour, and Overall Experience
Financial stress doesn't just affect the pocket,it ripples into every aspect of student life:

• Academic Performance: Students under financial strain often experience poor concentration, frequent absenteeism,and inability to afford essential materials (textbooks, data for research, or even transport to campus). Studies on Nigerian universities, including at UNIBEN, show that financial worries lead to lower GPAs,missed deadlines, and higher chances of dropping out.

• Behaviour and Vices: When survival becomes the priority, some students turn to negative coping mechanisms:cultism, fraud ("yahoo"), prostitution, theft, or excessive partying,to make quick money. Others withdraw socially or become aggressive.This is not because Nigerian students are inherently wayward, but because the system leaves little room for dignity and focus.

University life, which should be about intellectual growth, friendships, and personal development, becomes a daily survival struggle.The joy of learning is replaced by exhaustion and resentment.

Can Students Still Thrive Academically Despite Pressing Financial Struggles?
Yes, many do,but it is far from easy, and success often requires extraordinary resilience, support systems, and smart strategies.Some students from low-income homes still graduate with strong results through sheer determination, family sacrifices, scholarships, or creative income sources.

Should Students Be Encouraged to Take Up Side Gigs, or Focus Solely on Studies?
This is nuanced.In today's Nigeria, sole focus on studies is ideal but unrealistic for many without strong parental support.Side hustles (popularly called "hustle") have become almost inevitable for survival.

My Balanced View: Students should be encouraged to take up smart, low-time-commitment side hustles that align with their skills and schedule,ideally flexible ones like online freelancing, campus-based tutorials, or digital skills (content creation, Canva design, etc.).
However, academics must remain the priority.The goal should be "study first, hustle strategically", not the other way around.Excessive hustling turns students into part-time workers who merely attend school.
Ultimately, the solution isn't just individual resilience.Nigeria needs deliberate policies: increased education funding, more hostels at affordable rates, and economic stability that reduces the overall cost of living. Education should remain a ladder for social mobility,not a barrier that only the rich can climb.

I would better stop here; Nigeria's problems are just too myriad! We hope to see a better one,someday.Thank you! @therichking where are you Bro!

Do you think students can still thrive academically despite their pressing financial struggles? If yes, how do you think this can be achieved? Should they be encouraged to take up side gigs or just focus solely on their studies?

Yes, I think so and I am a living testimony. When I say I suffered financially as a university student , it's an understatement , but despite all odds,I thrived a academically because I defined what I want to achieve at the end and it made me stay focused all through. I created time table for my study and followed it strictly plus the side business i.did to support the little i do get from my parents back then.

Overall,it's all about intentionality. Excuses doesn't pay bills neither does it offers free good grades. Students must be intentional regardless of financial constraints and with that ,nothing can limit you !

Yes- students can still thrive academically despite financial struggles, but it takes strategy, not just willpower.

Hardship doesn’t automatically kill performance. It changes the conditions you have to work in. The students who make it through are usually the ones who treat their time, energy, and money like limited resources and build systems around that.

How it can be achieved:
Structure over stress: Financial pressure eats focus. The ones who thrive block out “money stress time” separately from “study time.” If you’re constantly thinking about fees or rent while reading, you won’t retain anything. Use weekends to solve money problems, weekdays to study.

Textbooks, notes, and past questions don’t need to be bought by everyone. Study groups cut costs and improve understanding. Financially stressed students often excel because they’re forced to collaborate instead of competing.

They should be encouraged to take up side gigs- but not any gig. A student who spends 6 hours daily driving a bike or doing night shifts will crash academically. The goal is income that doesn’t destroy your main asset: brainpower.

Gigs that work for students:
Online/remote work: Writing, graphic design, tutoring, content moderation. You control hours and can do it between lectures.
Campus-based: Selling snacks, printing services, helping lecturers with data entry. Low commute, flexible.
Skills-based: If you’re a CS student, do freelance coding. If you’re a mass comm student, run social media for small shops. It pays and builds your CV.

The rule: If the gig takes more than 10–15 hours/week or cuts into sleep/lecture time, it’s costing you more than it earns. Academics is still the long-term leverage point.

Should they focus solely on studies? Only if they have a reliable support system - family, scholarship, or savings. For the majority who don’t, “focus solely” means dropping out eventually due to fees. The best answer is “hybrid focus”: studies first, gigs second, and both done intentionally.

The real key: Community Students don’t thrive alone. Mentors, alumni, and even classmates who share info about grants or gigs make the difference. Hardship isolates.

@goldenproject
@zusi78
@marsdave
@sarahbaby
@ozibaby

Its another hangout, Take the mic 🎤

Happy weekend and new month my besties. How una dey.