For many Nigerian students, juggling lectures, assignments, exams, and side hustles can feel like a chaotic experience. Imagine having an AI tool that can summarise lecture notes, generate practice quizzes, help brainstorm assignments, and even organise your study materials.

Among the growing number of AI tools, Google Gemini stands out for its advanced research capabilities and academic support, offering a more innovative and faster way to tackle university life. Here, we explore 10 practical ways Nigerian students can use Gemini to study smarter and level up their academic game.

1. Turn Confusing Lectures Into Clear Notes

Sitting through a lecture only to leave feeling confused? Google Gemini can help you summarise key points instantly, turning dense slides and lecture notes into digestible summaries. You can even highlight essential sections or create bullet-point versions for quicker revision. No more staring at a 50-slide deck and wondering where to start. Gemini makes your notes crisp, clear, and easy to revise, saving you hours of rewrites and stress before exams.

2. Conduct In-Depth, Cited Research

With Deep Research, Gemini can generate detailed, cited summaries of academic topics. Need references for your essay or background for your project? Gemini pulls together information you can trust, helping you go beyond simple Google searches. Instead of spending hours piecing together articles and journals, you get the context and sources in minutes, letting you focus on analysis and critical thinking, and the skills lecturers actually value.

3. Generate Practice Quizzes for Revision

Exams don鈥檛 have to be terrifying. Gemini鈥檚 quiz generation tool lets you turn your notes into custom practice tests. Multiple-choice questions, short answers, or scenario-based prompts, all created instantly. This makes revising interactive and much more effective. By testing yourself with quizzes generated by Gemini, you identify weak points and retain information faster, so exam prep feels strategic rather than stressful.

4. Brainstorm and Draft Assignments Quickly

Gemini helps you brainstorm ideas, draft essays, or structure reports in minutes. Whether it鈥檚 a business plan for class, a history essay, or a science project, Gemini helps you iterate faster and more efficiently. You鈥檙e not outsourcing your thinking, but using AI to organise thoughts, explore angles, and kickstart your writing so deadlines don鈥檛 feel impossible.

5. Create Visuals and Infographics Easily

Some assignments require visuals, such as charts, diagrams, or illustrations. Gemini鈥檚 image upload and creation features enable you to turn data into visual content instantly. From biology diagrams to presentation slides, you can generate images that make your work more engaging and easier to understand. Gemini handles the heavy lifting, making your assignments look polished and professional.

6. Build a Digital CV While You Study

Uni isn鈥檛 just about studying for exams; you also need to prepare for the future. Gemini can help you document achievements, projects, and skills, creating a ready-to-go digital CV. From summarising internships to highlighting extracurricular work, you can showcase your academic and professional growth while still in school. By building this portfolio early, you鈥檙e setting yourself up to stand out in internships, applications, and future job opportunities.

7. Store and Organise Study Materials With 2TB Storage

Nothing is worse than losing essential files the night before an assignment is due. With 2TB of storage, Gemini Pro serves as your digital filing cabinet, storing all your lecture notes, PDFs, presentations, and research in one secure location. Organisation matters as much as studying, and Gemini ensures everything is easy to access, search, and manage, saving you from the panic of lost work and last-minute scrambling.

8. Learn on the Go With Audio Overviews

For students who are always on the move, Gemini鈥檚 Audio Overviews enable you to convert notes and research into audio clips. You can listen while commuting, exercising, or even waiting for class to start. This is perfect for revision on the go, helping you internalise concepts without being tied to your laptop. Audio summaries turn downtime into productive study time, making learning flexible and stress-free.

9. Leverage Multiple AI Models for Different Tasks

Gemini Pro isn鈥檛 just one tool 鈥� it鈥檚 a suite of specialised AI models. You get access to Gemini 2.5 Pro for powerful summarisation and drafting, Nano Banana for next-level image generation, and Veo3 for high-quality video creation. Depending on your task: research, drafting, or creating presentations, Gemini provides specialised assistance, making complex projects feel manageable. You get AI support tailored to the type of work you鈥檙e doing, boosting both efficiency and output quality.

10. Upgrade Your Study Game Before the Deadline

Finally, the most important tip: act now. The for Nigerian students ends December 9, 2025.听

To access it, you鈥檒l need to verify your student status using your valid student ID card. Once that鈥檚 done, you鈥檙e in.

By claiming it, you鈥檙e giving yourself a year-long advantage: unlimited AI chats, image uploads, quiz generation, 2TB storage, and advanced models that help you study smarter, innovate faster, and excel academically. Gemini isn鈥檛 just an AI tool 鈥� it鈥檚 a study partner and skill builder in one, preparing you for university success and the professional world beyond.

Claim your offer here:.

Read Next: 6 Online Platforms That Pay Nigerians to Train AI

On September 6, students gathered to march and raise their voices in solidarity against the inconsiderate school fees hike. The UNILAG management responded by calling the police on its students. Let’s get into everything there is to know about these events.

New school fees

New students whose course of study requires laboratory or studio use now pay 鈧�140,250. Others pay 鈧�100,750, while college of medicine undergraduates had their fees increased to 鈧�190,250 from an average of 鈧�20k per year. Why the sudden increase despite the current economic hardship?

The Student Loans Act

On August 8, Mr. Andrew Adejo, the Permanent Secretary of the proposed by the new Tinubu government. According to him, the new fees will cover the cost of accommodation and utilities, to ensure the promise of premium quality of education.

Ministry of Education approval

Mr. Adejo that the Ministry of Education gave UNILAG the go-ahead but has stopped giving other universities. But why can’t there be a uniform decision for everyone?听

The VC said it’s the national price

Although the government at the top has said they鈥檝e stopped other universities from increasing their school fees, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, the fees have been set all around Nigeria and can’t be adjusted for anyone.

UNILAG staff privilege

Staff members鈥� children They also get accommodation spaces in the hostels reserved for them. The staff members themselves may begin remote work soon to cut down on their transportation expenses. These compromises make it easier for some people, while the majority bear the brunt of hardship.

The protest

After the university鈥檚 management failed on their promise to the student leaders on August 2 that they鈥檒l reduce the school fees , the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) announced their plans to protest against the hike. NANS also sent a warning to the Department of State Services (DSS) not to stop them from protesting as it’s their universal human right.

But on the morning of September 6, 2023, policemen shot rubber bullets and teargas to scatter the agitated students’ peaceful protest. 

Students in lock-up

Some of the protesting students have been arrested. While most are yet to be identified by names, the NANS PRO, Giwa Temitope, alongside another student named Femi Adeyeye are among them. The students’ representative council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) wrote a solidarity letter, calling for the release of their arrested comrades and other students.

Burning Ram is coming.

This means that federal universities might beef up their tuition fees and the last thing you want to do is take a loan to study courses that aren鈥檛 relevant in the current digital age. We鈥檝e checked, and these tech courses are available in a number of Nigerian universities.

Data Science and Analytics

Source: Analytics Insight

Skilled data scientists are in high demand across various industries in the world. By learning data science and analytics, you can acquire the skills to analyze complex data sets and gain valuable insights. With these skills, you can become a tech-bro or sis and paying repaying that student loan will be easy work.

Schools that offer data science and analytics-related courses:

| MSc Computer Science

| MSc Computer Science听

| MSc Computer Science听

| MSc Computer Science

Digital Marketing:

Source: Springboard

Studying a course in digital marketing can set you up with the skills to help businesses and organizations reach their target audiences and promote products or services online. This field offers career options such as social media marketing, content creation, and search engine optimization. It鈥檚 a good course to invest in if you鈥檙e thinking of taking a student loan in Nigeria.

Schools that offer digital marketing-related courses:

| Digital Marketing 鈥� Strategies for Winning in the Digital Age听

| B.Sc. Information Science and Media Studies (Digital Media) | Msc Media and Communication

|Mass Communication

| BSc Marketing

Software Development

Source: Turing

If you鈥檙e taking a student loan in Nigeria, a course in software development should be on your radar if you want to get lucrative job opportunities after uni. By enrolling in a software development course, you’ll learn how to create mobile apps, websites, and software solutions. Maybe you鈥檒l build the next Paystack, who knows?

Schools that offer software development/engineering-related courses:

| BSc Computer Science (Information systems, technology)

| BSc Software Engineering

| MSc Computer Science| AOS: Software engineering, artificial intelligence, mobile computing, machine learning

| BSc Software Engineering

Cybersecurity

Source: Food safety magazine

In an age where companies are prone to cyber threats aka 鈥榳orking boys鈥�, many are investing heavily in protecting their digital assets. By studying cybersecurity, you’ll learn how to help organisations safeguard their systems, detect and prevent cyberattacks. 罢丑别谤别鈥檚 a growing demand for cybersecurity professionals and this is a solid investment if you鈥檙e taking a student loan in Nigeria.

Schools that offer cyber security听courses:

| BSc Cybersecurity

| BSc Cybersecurity

| BSc Cybersecurity

| MSc Cybersecurity | PhD Cybersecurity

| MSc Cyber Security

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML):

Source: Maruti Techlabs

By gaining expertise in AI and machine learning, you’ll be a hot cake in the business world. With the ability to analyze complex data, develop algorithms, and build AI-driven applications, the harsh labour market has got nothing on you.

Schools that offer artificial intelligence and machine learning-related courses:

| MSc Artificial Intelligence, MSc Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

| M.Phil/Ph.D Computer Science | AOS: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning

Mobile App Development:

Source: Vival Technologies

With the rise of smartphones and mobile applications, the demand for skilled app developers has never been higher. By learning mobile app development, you’ll acquire the skills to build innovative and user-friendly applications. Think about some of your favourite apps: Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, talented minds created them and you can be one of them too.

Schools that offer mobile app development-related courses:

| MSc Computer Science

| BSc Computer Science (Information systems, technology)

| BSc Software Engineering

Robotics and Automation:

Source: Prime Business Africa

The field of robotics and automation is booming, and there鈥檚 even a fear that robots might flood the labour market and render many jobless. God, abeg. But what if you鈥檙e the one building the robots? By studying this course, you’ll learn how to design and develop robots, automate processes, and integrate technology into various industries. 

Schools that offer software robotics and automation-related courses:

| BEng Mechatronics Engineering

| BEng Mechatronics Engineering

Please take the survey .

I-can-do-and-undo lecturers

Just pray you don’t get in trouble with a lecturer that thinks they’re next after God. They’ll tell you how they taught medicine to Small Doctor; and find a way to keep you in school for the next ten years.

Sex for grades

Why are there so many lecturers who can’t keep their genitals in their pants?

Payola champions

Some lecturers must always collect money for books or department projects from students. Their catch phrase is “I’m not forcing you to buy my book, but if you don’t buy this year, you’ll buy next year”.

When will people stop asking if school’s on break?

It’s painful when you finally realise you鈥檙e still fighting for a bus at Unilorin car park when your mates from private unis are already complaining about NYSC PPA or entry-level work stress.

Hot babes, come to Ikoyi to get lit with other hot babes at HERtitude 2023 on May 27th. Get your ticket .

Student union that鈥檚 weaker than spiderweb

Other than appearing at department dinners, they鈥檝e no power to implement change. Also, why is a boomer the leader of the National Association of Nigerian Students?

Every year, school fees hike

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but school management wants you to have it when they want it.

Every morning, database is on 404 Error

One school got several times recently. How long will sensitive data go unprotected? Just hire professionals.

Missing exam scripts

Imagine retaking a six-unit course because your exam script is sleeping under one dusty, heavy shelf in the department, and no one could be bothered to find it. How did it get there in the first place? No one knows.

ALSO READ: Just Imagine: If Nigerian Universities had Honest Slogans

Lay their beds

Sometimes, your roommates are late for lectures, or just too tired to lay their beds. Being the nice person you are, you should do it for them. If they don鈥檛 already like you, trust us, they鈥檒l love you after this. 

Share your allowance with them

God would love you for being a cheerful giver, but do you know who鈥檇 love you more? Your roommates.听

Do their assignments for them听

Because you鈥檙e selfless, and you want your roommates to like you, after doing your assignments, ask if they have any assignments you can help them with. 

Cook for them听

Everyone loves free food. Your roommates would adore and kill you with hugs if you cook for them. When you come back from your classes, head straight to the kitchen, whip up a nice meal, and serve it to them on a platter.

RELATED: All The Different Types Of Roommates in A School Hostel听

Fetch water for them听

We all know how Nigerian school hostels are; sometimes, the taps don鈥檛 run. Go out of your way by making sure your roommates鈥� buckets are always filled. How you鈥檒l do it, we don鈥檛, but just imagine the look on their faces when they see you鈥檝e filled their buckets for them when they wake up in the morning. 

Don鈥檛 stay in the room

Distance makes the heart grow fonder. If your roommates don鈥檛 see you every day, they might miss you and be nice to you when they finally return. So please, don鈥檛 spend too much time in your room.听

Don鈥檛 touch their stuff

People hate nothing more than when you touch their stuff, so please, respect yourself, and leave their property alone. 

Be funny, but not too funny

Everybody loves a clown, but let鈥檚 be honest, it gets to a point where it鈥檚 just tiring. What we鈥檙e trying to say is, to know when to shut up and stop being funny.

Don鈥檛 be too loud

Noisemakers are annoying because why are they always shouting? Just be calm, and your roommates will instantly love you 鈥� except you live with agberos sha.

Dindu*, UNN, Male, 19

The ASUU strike took away the financial freedom l had in school. I bought anything l wanted. Lunch was always at Chitis. I mean, my parents would send me money without asking. But during the strike, l didn鈥檛 see shishi. My elder siblings, who randomly sent me money, all disappeared. And they don’t believe it when l tell them in the family group chat that their baby boy is broke. My eldest sister would ask me what l need money for since l鈥檓 at home. Sis doesn鈥檛 know money enhances the baby-boyness so l can remain relevant. 

READ THIS: Aluta And Chill: 5 Students Talk About Their Experiences With Strikes

Shirley*, FUNAI, Female, 20

My school is the ghetto. Yeah, I have another opportunity to drag them, and l won鈥檛 miss it. The only thing l miss is physically meeting my friends and bantering over mundane things. It鈥檚 not like we don鈥檛 communicate again, but l miss physically seeing them. My friends are the coolest people on earth; l miss them so much. They鈥檙e what l miss. 

Onyi*, FUTO, Female, 23

I miss my boyfriend. I live in Anambra, and he鈥檚 in Abuja. We communicate every day, but l miss everything about him: his advice, help with my studies, gentle touches, sense of humour鈥� everything. He鈥檚 the best thing that happened to me in FUTO. We鈥檝e been dating for roughly a year, but it seems brand new every day around him, and there鈥檚 always something new to learn with him. The strike made me appreciate the moments that we shared more. We used to see almost every day in school. I鈥檓 happy ASUU has finally called off the strike because l miss that boy. 

Bose*, UI, Female, 24

罢丑别谤别鈥檚 this lecturer who takes one of the history courses. Once you attend his lectures, you鈥檙e sure to learn one or two big grammar. He鈥檒l come to class, spitting grammar laidis, and we鈥檒l just sit listening to him. Man is learned. Patrick Obahiagbon can鈥檛 even tie Professor Johnbull鈥檚 (that鈥檚 what we call him) shoelaces. I low-key miss the man鈥檚 鈥済argantuan crinkum crankum鈥�. 

RELATED: Aluta And Chill: 5 University of Ibadan Students Talk About Their Relationship Struggles

Big T*, UNIZIK, Male, 23

I miss my babes 鈥� not my girlfriends but friends that are so dear to me. I got to know them in my first week of resumption through my lodge mate, and we鈥檝e gone on to become great friends. We vibe wella. They have great personalities. But since the strike, our communication via WhatsApp has reduced to little chit-chat. 

Frank*, UNN, Male, 20

I miss quite a lot about school. I miss the suffocating green shuttle buses l took every morning. If l don鈥檛 board the shuttle, l have to walk, and l hate walking long distances. I miss the wicked bastid sun of Nsukka. See, my skin is glowing now, but l know once l return to that place, it鈥檒l wear off. Not like l love the sun, but l miss it beating me wickedly, especially during afternoons l don鈥檛 have a choice but to walk. I also miss the Okpa Nsukka that has been saving lives since the beginning of time.

Justin*, UNIBEN, Male, 20

I miss my beans and plantain plug. I love beans and plantain so much that l can exchange my kidney for a plate, but since the strike, l haven鈥檛 had one as good as the one I buy in school. That woman beats anyone who cooks beans and plantain. I don鈥檛 know how she prepares it, but it鈥檚 so tasty. I have referred countless people, and for every three people, she gives me one free plate. That鈥檚 the only thing l miss o, the good food l eat.

Nonso*, UNIZIK, Male, 24

I miss the stress of UNIZIK. Because of how stressful the environment is, we nicknamed it UNISTRESS. Waking early, suiting up in corporate attire and the boring hours l have to sit and listen to lectures, are what l miss about the school. Everything is designed to stress you from dusk to dawn at UNIZIK. For the past eight months, l鈥檝e done things my own way; I rested and caught up on things l missed while in school. I鈥檝e sha been preparing even while l was resting because l knew when the strike is finally called off, we go collect woto woto. UNIZIK always makes up for lost calendars, one way or the other. 

Nas*, UNIABUJA, Male, 22

I miss my friends at school. Friday night parties, aimless long walks while gisting with friends and having fun. I鈥檓 a certified loner at home. 

*Names have been changed to protect the subjects鈥� identities 

NEXT: ASUU Strike Has Ended, and These Are the Winners and Losers

Here are the wildest things students do in Nigerian universities.

1. Party all night and still make it to morning classes

Nigerian students would spend the night cubbing and still show up at a 7 a.m. class the next day. These days, capitalism has us by our throats. If you try going 鈥渙utside鈥� on a Sunday night, you can almost die at 9 a.m. meeting the next day. Life comes at you fast.

2. Students on drugs

This thing was a whole pandemic. One day in DELSU, this guy had a seizure in the middle of a 500L exam. Turns out he鈥檇 overdosed on drugs. Bro, you鈥檙e literally at the finish line. Whyyyyy?

Some other guy stole his drug test results from the school hospital. He got caught and expelled.

3. Receiving awards with convoys

Wannabe student celebs would pay departmental directors of socials to give them awards. At the departmental night, when the awardees were called to receive the award, every single person they knew would dance with them to the podium to receive the award. Make it make sense!

4. Ponzi Schemes

Fam, this was a whole pandemic that year. You couldn鈥檛 walk five steps without someone approaching you to 鈥渂ring someone鈥�. After the first ponzi wave passed 鈥� when schemes like MMM and Ultimate Cycler crashed 鈥� students started building websites that鈥檇 crash after 30 minutes. The race to cash out was insane because people knew they鈥檇 lose serious money but were still willing to bet on being one of the first to 鈥済et help鈥�. Fam, 2016 was the pits!

5. Going to Night Class to sleep

People literally left the comfort of their beds and braved the dangerous night streets, only to go and sleep on wooden desks after 10 minutes of cramming. 

6. Sex in strange places during Night Class

People were having sex on the staircase of , fam! They鈥檇 read for like 30 minutes and then sneak out one after the other for 鈥渇resh air鈥�. A couple in Babcock University was caught having sex in the gutter 鈥� a dry gutter, but still.

7. Going to the school library to sleep

People who usually did these were those serious but average students who you鈥檇 only ever see in class. After classes, they鈥檇 head to the library until night. You鈥檇 think they were always reading but guy, na disguise. Have you ever been to Nnamdi Azikiwe Library in UNN? That鈥檚 the most comfortable place to sleep in the whole school, and those students took full advantage.

8. “Airport flights”

This was more of a survival skill. Male hostels are the absolute ghetto. Typically poorly maintained, nobody uses the shared toilets unless you want to invite diseases into your body. So, students would wait until night, stroll into the surrounding bushes (the “airport”), spread a nylon bag and squat. Once they were done, they鈥檇 fling the bag of shit further into the bush 鈥� catching flights.

Editor’s picks:

1. How Nigerian Students Prepare for Exams (in 12 Bad Habits)
2. 10 Things To Do With Your Life Immediately After Uni

It’s bad enough that monthly allowance will cease and you’ll miss the oddly satisfying sense of safety the university environment provides, but it is what it is.

Those feelings are totally valid, and you’re not alone. Also, don鈥檛 worry, we won’t shove advise down your throat like your African parents or village people.

1. Realise that no one has it all figured out

It might look like it, but many recent (or about-to-be) graduates like you do not have their lives figured out. Everyone is really just taking it one day at a time and supplementing with vibes. So, give yourself some credit for surviving the last four or more years in a system designed to frustrate you.

2. Be calming down

Instead of freaking out about what the future holds and how you literally have no clue what you’re doing with your life, take time out to b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Being a graduate is not beans, after all. Take a moment to reflect on your life and acknowledge your achievements.

3. Disappoint your parents

You’ve probably played by their rules for this long, and now they’ll have expectations of you “settling down” and getting a good job.

4. Write a goodbye letter to that one lecturer

You know the one we’re referring to. Every university has that one lecturer who made school a living nightmare. Write to let them know your God is bigger than them.

5. Become a full-time sugar baby

Now that your parents will likely cut back on allowances and student privileges, you need a new source to foot your “adulting” bills. Start writing your “sugar baby available” ad now o!

6. Japa

Now that nothing urgent ties you to this country, you can japa to the abroad. Either for another degree, enjoyment, travel, or to pursue a career. Here are some japa destinations, a guide for japa-ing and how to let people know you have japa-ed when you do.

7. Slide into your year-one crush’s DM

You’ve been eyeing that person since first year, so why not go ahead and ask them on a date? Take risk and succeed!

8. Look for internship opportunities

If you feel like you’re ready to face the post-uni life head-on, then an internship would be a great way to garner experience in the workforce. Sha don’t let anybody use your head in the name of internship. Have you seen the price of sardine?

9. Ask for an apology

Yes, the person who invented school and all the stress that comes with it seriously needs to apologise.

10. Network

QUIZ: Which Nigerian University Should You Have Attended?

It’s easier said than done. So, read this article to find out how you can fake it till you make it in life.

Asides exorbitant fees, what is the price they pay to study in these religious and non-religious private unis? Read on to find out.

Anne, 21

My university has horrible hostels and living conditions. It’s even worse for medical students coupled with the fact that we pay more for accommodation than all the other students. There’s also poor maintenance of the school buildings. Can you believe grasses are taller than the students? I understand that it’s the first private school in Nigeria but at least maintain the buildings! They have horrible health care services; the clinic is basically an empty building, the drugs are expensive for nothing. Sometimes if you’re sick and you need drugs or injection, you’d have to buy it yourself.

Joshua, 16

The fees are outrageous. I paid 4 million Naira in my first year for basic biology. Nothing is changing in the school and now, they鈥檝e increased the fees by 1.4 million Naira! Everything here is overpriced. I feel like they buy things outside and multiply the price by two. Water too is very dirty, and as a result, we have to buy water to bathe. Something that shouldn鈥檛 even be happening. Fungi was growing on the walls in my room, and we pleaded with them to fix it, but they didn鈥檛. There is a compulsory acceptance fee of 200k you have to pay before you enter the school, which I think is unnecessary. Another thing I hate is that students are not allowed to leave the school for any reason except when you鈥檙e about to die. Mind you, their health care services are terrible as well. There are rumours that a boy died last semester due to the late arrival of ambulances. Things are that bad. The owner of the school doesn鈥檛 renovate existing buildings. All he does is build new ones he can boast about. Worse still, the Medicine and Surgery College auditorium is very horrible. You can鈥檛 sit on half of the seats there, and some places on the roof are leaking. I also hate the fact that we have classes from 8 a.m till 9 p.m. It鈥檚 exhausting.In this school, if you fail just one course, you鈥檒l be asked to opt for another course in the same department. It happened to me because for some reason, they couldn鈥檛 find one of my results. I had to go through the ordeal of trying to get another JAMB admission letter.A conference was held to discuss the state of things and parents demanded for changes, but nothing changed.

Shola, 22

They think they鈥檙e doing students and parents a favour because they’re not affected by strikes and unforeseen circumstances like COVID. Basically, they鈥檙e pompous and think they can do anything they want e.g increasing school fees, making weird rules, and you can鈥檛 complain because where else can you go? The rules! I swear to God, private universities come up with the weirdest rules and regulations. Again, the school management has this haughty mentality because they’re free of government influence and can run shit however they want to an extent. If there are any complaints from the student body, they鈥檒l slap you with something like “If you cannot adhere to our rules and let the school pass through you, then get out. There are applicants begging to be in your shoes. We can fill your spot anytime.” The restrictions on dressing and hairstyle is tolerable for me, but it still sucks.

Dami, 19

I’m in a private school, and the worst thing about it is the fact that it’s overly restrictive and they treat us like kids. The dress code is ridiculous. We even have a seven p.m. curfew. Our hostel porters have way too much power in my own opinion. Then school food is bad and expensive at the same time. Although the university isn’t owned by a church, we’re required to go to church twice a week.

Daniel, 26

So the private university I attended makes service compulsory, and we had 4 services in a week, minus hall worship. Your fees cover feeding, but the food is subpar, let’s not even talk about the long queues to get it. Or how faith-based universities have silly rules like no jeans. What has it done?? Why no jeans? Also, women couldn’t wear trousers except for sports. Like why??? They have the most absurd rules. I left in 2015, I don’t know if things have changed now.

Ibk, 24

Private universities don鈥檛 encourage individuality. They put so much fear in you, you forget the person you are. The school creates a bubble and locks you in. It makes it difficult for you to navigate real life and question authority. A lot of the schools also make you live in fear. You don鈥檛 know how to be expressive of what you are really going through. They treat adults like babies. I went to CU and it was a horrible experience for me. The classes are small which is a good thing and lecturers can notice every student, but it鈥檚 hard for lecturers to care about the students who are not doing well. They expend more energy on students who are doing well and are visibly disdainful to students who struggle with school.

Jamila, 20

The one thing that stands out for me about the private university I attend is how nonchalant the school is about their students’ well-being. For starters, the food isn鈥檛 quality and it is overpriced. There are times when all the ATMs in the school would stop working at once, and it could stay like that for weeks. Church service is their priority and you can鈥檛 leave the hall until the service is over. One time, they didn鈥檛 let my friend out even though she was having an asthma attack. I had to beg. To top it all, they are so indecisive about the resumption dates and could spontaneously decide to change the already set date few days before it arrives. This can make students from all over the country to cancel their already booked flights. Then the way they try to suppress and silence students whenever we want to speak up about something we don鈥檛 like or think needs to change is sad.

Read these 8 stories to get a closer glimpse into the struggles of the average Nigerian student and the worst things about Federal universities.

Lanre, 24

I attended a university that periodically went on strikes, and I hated it. Also, the fact that they are more prone to robbery. I mean, there was no semester where we weren’t afraid of being robbed or heard of hostels that were robbed. I found the class schedule tiring, especially in my department. It was as if the lecturers thought we had no other life aside from being a student.

Jay, 25

I completed my undergraduate studies in a federal university this year. One thing I hate about my experience is the lack of proper transportation system. I had a lot of issues with that from 100 – 400 level. I remember standing in queues for hours just to get a bus out of school, and standing on the road to get one going inside the school. The annoying thing is that most of the classes were usually slated for 8 a.m. The lecturers do not even want to understand the plight of students. It’s just terrible. Students should be able to access transportation easily like other places around the world.

Anthony, 23

One thing I hate about federal universities is lecturers not being properly monitored. How will a lecturer not come to class for like 2 weeks and still expect to be paid the month’s salary? Also, they don’t update their knowledge on the current developments playing out in their fields. I don’t know if it’s sheer laziness or unwillingness, but it’s really pathetic. The same lecturer would want you to pass a test or exam for a course you haven’t been taught.

Esther, 22

I hate everything about federal universities, honestly. From the lecturers who see themselves as next to God, to the countless struggles one has to deal with; dilapidated buildings, broken seats, and somehow, you’re expected to focus in class. Then, I detest that the school authorities keep bragging about how “A certificate from here is better than a certificate from private universities.” All lies! It’s just suffering. I’m in 400 level and can’t wait to be out.

Efe, 24

What I hate about my university is how wack lecturers in my department are. They just come into the lecture venue, read from a textbook and when you ask a question they don’t give any answer. We have inadequate facilities and equipment as well. Something I also can’t wrap my head around is having to pay the nonacademic staff to simply do their jobs.

Faith, 21

Federal universities are the absolute worst. Using my university as a case study, the hostels are like prison yards where they send hardened criminals. Even animals shouldn鈥檛 live there. Then let鈥檚 talk about the management and staff, both academic and nonacademic. They are like prison wardens sent to stress your life. Just small power you give them and they think they are the next best thing after sliced bread. Lecture halls are always packed with no place for students to sit except you come really early. Then the one that pisses me off the most is that I have to buy water because our taps do not rush. Let鈥檚 not even talk about how lecturers sell results and force students to buy handouts. By the way, my university is supposed to be “highly acclaimed.”

Cheta, 21

Omo. The strikes are never ending oh. When you are in the middle of a semester, they’ll just decide to strike. Sometimes I wonder if these lecturers have a conscience that pricks them. They always mark students down. At the end of a semester, you’ll see your exam or test scores and be surprised. Honestly, I just want to be done.

Debbie, 23

See ehn, I’m tired of this university and I can’t wait to leave them and their wahala. I’m in my finals, and outside classes, there’s really nothing the system has offered by way of advantage as it relates to the outside world. Everything I know about careers and positioning myself for opportunities I’ve had to be intentional about learning by myself. There is the constant bus issue that drains my soul. After a long day of lectures, you get to the school park hoping to get home and rest, only to see a long ass queue. They allot small venues for courses that over 400 students are offering. Where are you supposed to sit? There are the lecturers who are simply a bad fit for the courses they teach. Mind you, nothing really works, not even the wall clocks in lecture halls. There’s also the dress code and how they harass students for fixing nails, hair extensions and other insignificant things.