Students’ Housing Satisfaction as a Basis for Sustainable Hostel Design in Southwestern Nigeria: A Case Study of the University of Ibadan

Student accommodation is a key part of university life. It affects students' academic performance, well-being, comfort, and daily living. But student housing in Nigerian universities often has problems like overcrowding, poor maintenance, small spaces, few facilities, and poor conditions. This study looked at students' housing satisfaction in on-campus and off-campus hostels at the University of Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria. The goal was to guide sustainable, student-centred hostel design, especially for the proposed Alumni Students' Hostel at Ajibode. The study used a quantitative approach. Structured questionnaires collected data from 360 students in selected on-campus and off-campus hostels. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and weighted mean scores, with 3.0 as the threshold for adequacy. Results showed that the overall physical, spatial, and environmental quality of student housing was inadequate, with a weighted mean of 2.91. Room size and layout (2.46), privacy (2.59), structural aesthetics (2.02), waste disposal and sanitation (2.73), cleanliness (2.87), and water and electricity supply (2.82) all fell below the threshold. Some features were rated adequate. These include toilets, bathrooms, and kitchens (3.22), thermal comfort (3.17), furniture and fittings (3.24), security (3.06), circulation spaces (3.05), and natural landscape elements (3.02). Socio-economic and cultural factors scored higher, with a weighted mean of 3.80. Students were satisfied with hostel affordability (4.27), social inclusion (3.90), accommodation of diverse backgrounds (3.90), and respect for cultural and religious practices (3.87). The study concludes that housing satisfaction depends on physical, spatial, environmental, socio-economic, cultural, and management factors. Sustainable hostel designs should offer adequate space, privacy, ventilation, natural lighting, sanitation, security, and shared facilities. These findings support the proposed Alumni Hostel at Ajibode and guide sustainable student housing design in Southwestern Nigeria.