Abuja, Nigeria – March 4, 2025 – The voices of Nigerian students battling hunger have grown louder as calls intensify for the Federal Government to introduce food packages for undergraduates in tertiary institutions. With the rising cost of living and many students struggling to afford basic meals, student leaders and advocacy groups are urging authorities to step in before the crisis worsens.
Students Struggle to Afford Food Amid Economic Hardship
The plea for government intervention was amplified by Morakinyo Sola, the 44th President of the Yaba College of Technology Students Union Government (SUG), who highlighted the severe hardship many students face. Speaking at the “Feed YABATECH Students Initiative,” Sola revealed that a significant number of students are financially incapacitated and go to bed hungry.
“The government has put initiatives like NELFUND in place, but hunger remains a major issue,” Sola said. “Students need assurance that at least once in a while, they can get food assistance to survive.”
The student-led initiative aimed at fighting hunger on campus saw thousands of students receiving food packs, meal vouchers, and financial aid to ease their struggles.
“We Can’t Learn on Empty Stomachs” – Students Beg for Urgent Action
Beyond YABATECH, students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria are feeling the same pain as food prices continue to skyrocket. Reports from different campuses indicate that many students are skipping meals or relying on cheap, unhealthy alternatives just to get through the day.
Kappo Olawale, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos on Student Union Matters, praised the YABATECH initiative but stressed that the issue needs urgent government intervention.
Government and Organizations Urged to Step In
As food insecurity becomes a growing crisis for Nigerian students, student leaders, activists, and humanitarian organizations are urging the Federal Government to establish structured food aid programs in tertiary institutions.
Refuge Network International, an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations, contributed 200 cartons of noodles to the YABATECH program. Their Director of African Operations, Benjamin Gimo, called for more organizations and the government to step up efforts in combating student hunger.
“Hunger is Real – And It’s Affecting Our Future”
With the 2025 JAMB and NECO exams approaching, educational stakeholders warn that if students cannot afford proper meals, their academic performance will suffer. Many fear that Nigeria’s future workforce is at risk if urgent action is not taken.
The Federal Government has yet to respond to the latest calls for food intervention programs, but as more students speak up, the pressure is mounting.