Benue State University, Makurdi

Private cost payment ability and Cohesion among Undergraduates in Nigerian Universities: A Case Study of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma

Dr. V. O. Igbineweka University of Benin,
James Onukwu Federal University, Otuoke.

Abstract

The problem of undergraduates not paying school charges as and when due is commonly observed in many Nigerian universities. From security reports in the universities, these category of students are often indicted for involvement in social vices within and outside university premises. This therefore necessitated the present study to investigate students’ ability to pay private cost and the level of cohesion in Nigerian universities using the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State as a case study. Two research questions and one hypothesis were raised to guide the study. Since the population was infinite and heterogeneous, a convenient number of 50 undergraduates were randomly selected from each of the 13 identified population parameters to constitute the study sample. A questionnaire titled: Funding Private Cost and Cohesion Among Students Questionnaire (FUPRICOQUE) was designed, validated, pilot-tested (N=20, r=.88) by the researchers and used for the study. Section “A” collected demographic information on students that served as respondents while “B” contained a comprehensive list of 48 private expenditures students rated their ability to pay their private cost on a 4-Point rating scale. Section “C” of the questionnaire rated the level of cohesion among students also on a 4-Point rating scale ranging from “Very Strong Cohesion” with 4 points to “Very Weak Cohesion” rated 1 point. The cohesion factors of religion, sports, unionism, academic and social matters each had 4 items that were rated on the scale. Data collected were descriptively analysed to answer research questions 1 and 2 while the only hypothesis was tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation statistics. The results of analysis showed that students who have weak ability to pay private cost also have weak level of cohesion. Based on the findings. It was recommended among others that government and university authorities should implement policies that would mitigate or subsidize the private cost of attending universities in Nigeria.

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