COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROVISION OF STUDENTS’ HOSTELS IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MINNA AND FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Many students pursuing higher education notably in public universities, are facing intense and dire accommodation crisis, as available facilities in most of the public universities fall far short of the demand from students. The aim of the study is to assess Private Sector Involvement in the Provision of Students’ Hostels in Federal University of Technology Minna and Federal Polytechnic Bida, Nigeria. The methodology utilized for this study is questionnaire administration. The researcher adopted a survey tool for the study. A sum of 360 questionnaires were distributed in the study areas, Two Hundred and Fifty (250) questionnaires for Federal Polytechnic Bida and One Hundred and Ten (110) questionnaires for Federal University of Technology Minna. Two Hundred and Ten (210) were retrieved from the Federal Polytechnic Bida while Ninety-Five (95) from Federal University of Technology Minna. Data were analyzed using statistical techniques such as the percentage, frequency tables and weighted mean. The findings reveal that scarcity of long-term funds, infrastructural inadequacy and high cost of materials are one of the prominent challenges faced by investors in the provision of student housing. It is recommended that Promote collaboration between private developers, local communities, and educational institutions to ensure that student housing projects align with community needs as well as encourage private developers to invest in basic infrastructure within student housing projects.