By R.T Abdul
At exactly 4:30 a.m., the alarm on Bisola’s phone rings in a small off-campus apartment in apete, For the ND2 Business Administration student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, the early hour is not unusual, it is survival. “If I don’t leave the house early, I’ll miss my 7 a.m. lecture or spend the whole morning in traffic,” he says.
Across Ibadan, many Polytechnic students begin their days before sunrise, For those living off campus, mornings involve fetching water, managing unstable electricity, and preparing for long commutes, Breakfast is often skipped.
“Sometimes all I have is garri and groundnut, and some days nothing at all,” says Aisha Awopetu, an HND1 student of Accountancy. “You just tell yourself you’ll eat later because by the time lectures begin, the campus is already buzzing”. She added.
Overcrowded classrooms and limited learning facilities are a familiar reality, In the lecture halls, students squeeze onto benches, stand by windows, or listen from outside, Yet, the hunger for education remains strong. “No matter how stressful it gets, we still come to class, As Education is our way out”, Ibrahim, an ND1 student of Electrical Engineering exclaimed.
When lectures end, another phase of the day which is the hustle begins as many students of The Polytechnic Ibadan take on part-time jobs or small businesses to support themselves around the campus gates and nearby communities, Students run POS stands, work at business centres, cut hair, sew clothes, or sell food items. Others explore online opportunities. “After lectures, I design flyers for small businesses and manage social media pages,” says Tobi, a student of Office Technology and Management. “That’s how I pay for handouts and transport.”
Despite the pressure, friendships help lighten the burden as student gather under trees, in hostels, and at popular campus joints, students gather to share jokes, gist about campus trends, and argue about football and life in general, students find these moments provide emotional relief. “My friends are my family here,” says Blessing, an ND2 student of Science Laboratory Technology. “When one person is broke, we find a way to manage together.”
Faith also plays a central role in student life at the institution. Fellowship meetings, mosque prayers, and personal devotion offer comfort in uncertain times. “When things get overwhelming, I go for fellowship, it helps me get away from reality even,” Samuel Adisa , a student of Business Administration said while speaking to the Press. “It reminds me that my struggles have meaning.” he further stated.As night falls, exhaustion sets in, but responsibilities remain.
Some students return late from work, while others struggle to read under dim bulbs or phone torches during power outages. “There are nights I read till 1 a.m. with my phone torch,” Aisha admits. “It’s not easy, but you don’t have a choice.”
Yet, despite the challenges, Polytechnic Ibadan students continue to push forward. Their days are defined by resilience, sacrifice, and determination. From lecture halls to side hustles, their stories reflect a shared reality, a relentless pursuit of education and a better future against all odds.
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