As the grip of hunger tightens due to soaring living costs, students in tertiary institutions are resorting to unconventional measures to survive.
Once synonymous with a lavish lifestyle, students now find themselves selling off home appliances and gadgets to make ends meet amidst economic challenges, Vanguard discovered.
Osazuwa Akinola, a student, reveals the grim reality, noting how the high cost of living has forced students to buy and sell gadgets to cover essential expenses.
“It is very disheartening to see your fellow student suffer to get food and survive in this harsh economy.
“The economy is not smiling at our parents and guardians, so it is affecting us too.
“Before some of my mates in the hostel comes with bags of food stuff and other useful appliances that helps one relax but now the cost of food has trippled and such scenarios have ceased to exist.
“Businesses in the school vicinity are also not helping matters.
“Seeing we are students they believe we have money and increase the prices of goods once it is a student purchasing them.
“They have forgotten that what is affecting the economy is affecting parents and guardians and also affecting us.
“Many of us now have to tie down our idle cash by buying used home items and appliances like bed, fridge, cupboard, gas cylinder, television set among other things from graduating students.
“These items are now auctioned on some popular e-commerce platforms known to students.
“And the money gotten from these sales are used to foot their bills.
“But some students who brought these gadgets from home do sell them in times of need at a low price.”
Businesses near campuses exacerbate the situation by hiking prices, oblivious to the financial strain on students’ families.
Miss. Lovet Momoh, a 200-level student, shares her struggle, initially hoping for a comfortable life in school until her father’s demise and economic hardships shattered her dreams.
Forced to find alternative means, students like Lovet turn to trading used items procured from graduating peers, navigating through the harsh economic climate while striving to pursue their education.
