Supporting women students in Nigerian Higher Education

The research project involved a collaboration with UK colleagues and colleagues at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. We investigated ways to enhance women's experiences of higher education in Nigeria, including identifying wellbeing and support needs, to enable women students to reach their potential. We focussed on identifying, sharing and building on good practices and building useful resources for students, staff and universities.

This report identifies a range of barriers that women students may face including material (access to funding, resources, healthcare and security), practical (including time constraints), socio-cultural (including discrimination), academic and emotional / psychological barriers. Staff employ a range of good practices to support them, however there is a need to invest in infrastructure, training and resources to ensure women have the best opportunity to succeed.