THE UI SURVIVAL PARADOX: INFRASTRUCTURAL DEFICITS AND THE EROSION OF STUDENT COPING MECHANISM

By Okunade Laylah

According to Michael G. Aamodt (2010), stress is “the psychological and physical response to demands (stressors) that exceed a person’s resources or ability to cope.” Therefore an event is characterized as "stressful" when it eclipses the individual's capacity to manage them.

It is indisputable that Nigerian students live in a state of perpetual tension, triggered by events like pressure from the system, exams and term papers, time constraints e.t.c. that constitutes stress.

While academic stressors could be managed, the students of the University of Ibadan who stay on campus are faced with Systemic Control- the relentless surge in the prices of kerosene and chronic inconsistencies of electricity supply.

​The relentless surge in kerosene prices cannot be described as a financial inconvenience; it is a catalyst for a profound physiological and psychological crisis. As the prices of kerosene continue to rise, the chances of survival diminishes, as eating habits and culture become more constrained. Lack of proper nutrition affects students' efficiency. Psychologically, the unpredictability of the market breeds a constant sense of 'resource anxiety'— a draining mental state of fear of the next price hike which keeps the mind in a state of alert. Together, these factors act as a permanent catalyst for chronic stress.

Compounding this physical depletion is the erratic power supply. This creates a secondary battle for survival, where students already under chronic stress must scramble to keep their devices powered just to access basic academic materials, and face total darkness when attempting to read physical textbooks.

This constant state of 'survival mode' is the ultimate thief of academic excellence. When the majority of a student's mental energy is spent calculating the cost of a meal and hunting for a functional charging point, the mental capacity available for complex learning is severely diminished. Apparently, there is a huge gap between demand and students' coping abilities.

For The University of Ibadan to maintain its stellar reputation as the "First and the Best" , it is expedient for the institution to devise a comprehensive intervention plan that prioritizes the students welfare.