The current price of a litre of fuel is between 700 and 800 naira. And here, as prices like these increase, so does the cost of living. As the cost of living continues to rise across Nigeria, UI students feel the strain, particularly when purchasing food and other essential items. Debra, a 400-level student of the Faculty of Nursing, laments “The high prices placed on food is outrageous. The quality of food bought at the same price at the beginning of the year has completely deteriorated.” She added that buying food on campus was no longer worth it except there were no other options.
A student in the Faculty of Law who preferred to be anonymous echoes Debra’s concerns, “It’s beyond normal. What is worse is that even when the prices fall, vendors in school do not flow with it.” For him, prices in school are inflated beyond the normal market prices. This student joins several others who have complained about the lack of acknowledgement that this food insecurity affects students’ grades.
Inflated Prices and Limited Options
The University of Ibadan (UI) campus currently lacks a large dedicated commercial centre, forcing students to rely on the surrounding local markets and shops for their daily needs. A supermarket recently opened near the Student Union Building (SUB) car park. However, the supermarket is not fully stocked or even well-known, as evidenced by the fact that most of the respondents in this article did not know about the supermarket until they were asked about it.
On the other hand, the supermarkets outside the school campus do not provide much relief to students from the inflated prices in the school. Ifeoluwani Dosunmu, a fourth-year medical student, says, “Shokem is not a serious store. Most of their things are overpriced, and people still patronise them because they’re the only ones around. Richbam is also never reliable. They never have what I want to buy“.
This lack of a centralised shopping hub on campus has exacerbated UI students’ challenges. They are at the mercy of local vendors who can dictate prices and product availability without a dedicated commercial complex. The situation has become increasingly frustrating for many students, who feel they have limited options for meeting their basic needs.
The Rise of Alternatives
In response to the challenges faced in the local markets, some students have turned to alternative shopping options, such as Pinnacle Supermarket, located in the Dugbe area of Ibadan. Others go to Bodija to buy groceries and other food. Ifeoluwa explains, “I’d say they[Pinnacle] have unrivalled prices. Their things are pretty cheap, and you can find everything there. But, it’s such a hassle going there, and most times, I’d prefer buying at other places just to save myself the stress of going there.” She said before adding that you’d wait hours to get in, pay, and get your things packed, and at the end of the day, you would be left tired and stressed. The popularity of Pinnacle Supermarket among UI students highlights the demand for more affordable and accessible shopping options. While the distance may deter some, the significant savings have made it a preferred destination for many students.
A few months ago, a new supermarket opened close to the Student Union Building – right beside the Coca-Cola depot – providing another option for students. Ordinarily, the supermarket at SUB should be a game-changer. It has a better selection than most campus shops, making it a welcome addition. But only with time, can we know if it is a chance to provide a more affordable and accessible option to students on campus. Then, maybe students won’t have to go as far as Pinnacle in Dugbe to get fair prices.
The Agbowo Complex: A Future Opportunity?
General David Jemibewon, then the military administrator of Nigeria’s Western Region, designed the Agbowo Shopping Complex, which was built on over 30 plots of land in 1983 by the Bola Ige administration of the old Oyo State. At the time, it was the largest retail mall in Oyo State, with central air conditioning and a cinema adjacent. The commercial centre contained over 100 stores and a functional fire station that served the Agbowo village and the surrounding area. During its peak, the Agbowo Shopping Complex employed over 5000 people directly.
The shopping complex fell from grace over time, particularly in the last twenty years, when the structure began to deteriorate and rot. In 2012, the State Housing Corporation turned off the electricity in the complex and removed the security guards, cleaners, gardeners, and other service workers. The shopping centre lost appeal, and the vast estate turned into a den of hoodlums. The place became a haven for people who were beggars and mentally ill people.
But, on the 23rd of December 2020. The Governor of Oyo State; Engr. Seyi Makinde flagged off the reconstruction and rebuilding of the Agbowo Shopping Complex. The facility will be converted into a 4-star hotel and a top commercial real estate development. The completed building will feature a 10-floor four-star hotel, a 600-capacity 3D Cinema, and a time-level car park doubling as a drive-in Cinema in the evening.
While the rebuilding of the Agbowo Shopping Complex has not yet been completed, its planned development represents a significant opportunity for the University of Ibadan and its students. Toyosi Aderinto, a 400l student Nursing student expresses cautious optimism, “It’d make things a lot easier for students and those living near it. Accessible, in this case. We can only hope it does the same for affordability, as they haven’t finished works on it yet.”
The proposed Agbowo Shopping Complex has the potential to become a game-changer and student-friendly commercial hub that could alleviate the burden of inflated prices and limited options. However, the project’s success will depend on the Government’s ability to ensure that it is designed and managed in a way that genuinely caters to the needs of the student community. The rising cost of living and the challenges faced by UI students have affected the students and the sellers alike. The area’s local vendors, restaurants, and service providers rely heavily on the student population for their livelihoods.
The importance of the presence of students in the community to the economic well-being of traders in the school environment cannot be emphasised enough. When students are away, either on holidays or during strikes, the local businesses experience a significant drop in revenue. So it’s also imperative to question how the new shopping complex might affect it. Toyosi says “It’d rival theirs, for sure. If it’s more economical for students and people in general, they’d have a lot fewer customers.” Before she added that “those that would buy, would buy.”
Conclusion
The rising cost of living has placed a significant burden on UI students, who are already grappling with the challenges of academic life. As food prices continue to soar, students are forced to make difficult choices about allocating their limited resources.
While students have found ways to adapt and cope with the situation, the long-term impact on their academic performance and overall well-being is concerning. The planned development of the Agbowo Shopping Complex represents a potential solution, but its success will depend on the university’s ability to create a vibrant, student-friendly commercial hub.
It is crucial that UI students’ voices are heard and their needs are addressed. Only by working together can we ensure that the rising cost of living does not become a barrier to education and success.
Moboluwarin Ogunleye
