Hostel Facility Quality, Essential Services and Student Residential Satisfaction in Nigerian Public Universities: Evidence from TETFund (Published)
Student accommodation is an important component of the University built environment because the quality of residential facilities influences students’ comfort, safety, well-being, and capacity to participate effectively in academic life. In Nigeria, substantial public investment has been directed towards tertiary-education infrastructure through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), yet evidence concerning whether physical infrastructure provision translates into satisfactory residential experiences remains limited. This study evaluates the relationship between hostel facility quality, essential-service provision, and student residential satisfaction in TETFund-supported hostels at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Yelwa Campus, Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Structured questionnaires were administered to hostel users, with 154 returned and 134 valid responses retained for analysis. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, and correlation analysis were undertaken using SPSS. The results indicate that the number of completed TETFund-supported hostel buildings recorded the highest availability rating (Mean = 4.92, SD = 0.27), followed by total bed capacity (Mean = 4.68, SD = 0.47) and occupancy-related provision (Mean = 4.60, SD = 0.49). Physical residential attributes were also highly rated, particularly room size and layout and ventilation/lighting (both Mean = 4.84). In contrast, service-related dimensions were considerably weaker, including water supply (Mean = 3.00), internet/Wi-Fi availability (Mean = 2.49), and toilet and bathroom maintenance (Mean = 2.42). Overcrowding (Mean = 4.59), inadequate space per student (Mean = 4.51) and insufficient or damaged furniture (Mean = 4.51) were the most prominent reported challenges. The study also reports a positive association between essential-service quality and student satisfaction (R = 0.465, p < 0.01). The findings demonstrate a critical distinction between infrastructure provision and infrastructure performance: construction investment can improve the physical accommodation stock, but sustained residential satisfaction depends on reliable utilities, sanitation, maintenance, connectivity, and responsive facility management. The study contributes a post-occupancy perspective to the assessment of public university infrastructure investment in a developing-country context and provides implications for lifecycle facility management and future TETFund-supported hostel development.
Keywords: Residential Satisfaction, TETFund, essential services, hostel facility quality, student accommodation