STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION AND USE OF HOSTEL AMENITIES AT THE FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, MINNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

In today's competitive educational climate, student satisfaction with hostel amenities has grown to be a crucial factor for schools and universities, since contented students contributes to both student retention and the image of the institution. This study looked at how satisfied students were with and utilized the hostel facilities at the Federal University of Technology in Minna, Nigeria. Hostel blocks were used as the sampled clusters for a standardized questionnaire that was used to collect data. Only 200 valid replies were used for analysis, despite the fact that 250 of the 350 questionnaires that were sent were returned, yielding a 71% response rate. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the relationships among hostel facility quality, student satisfaction, and patronage. The results show that both student satisfaction and use of hostel facilities are highly predicted by the quality of hostel amenities. The amenities with the highest ratings, which indicate the highest levels of student happiness, were internet and CCTV. However, students' actual use of the facilities, particularly their willingness to recommend the hostel or extend their stay, remained comparatively low, pointing to a gap between facility quality and sustained patronage. In general, students expressed contentment with the hostel's amenities and thought they were well-maintained. In order to promote ongoing development and efficient upkeep, the study suggests conducting routine post-occupancy assessments of hostel amenities. Amenities that facilitate students' academic endeavors should also receive more attention, especially dependable internet connectivity.