How Nigerian final-year students are navigating academic, financial and career pressures 

By Omolola Akinwunmi

For many undergraduates, the final year represents the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. It is a period filled with excitement about graduation, but also one marked by intense academic demands, financial pressures, emotional exhaustion, and uncertainty about life after school.

Interviews conducted by The Lagos Voice with final-year students across Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), the University of Ibadan (UI), and Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) reveal that although individual experiences differ, the challenges of finishing strong are strikingly similar.

One final-year student of Family Nutrition and Health Sciences at OAU with the name Detola, described the final year as demanding in almost every aspect. According to her, students are expected to juggle lectures, assignments, practicals, projects, and other graduation requirements while dealing with increasing financial responsibilities.

“The pressure is particularly intense academically and financially,” she explained to The Lagos Voice, noting that every stage of the final year seems to come with new demands and additional expenses.

Students from other universities echoed this reality. Margaret Oyiwodu, a final-year student of Early Childhood and Educational Foundations at the University of Ibadan, said the challenge lies in trying to balance classes, project work, departmental activities, and preparations for life after.

Similarly, Omotade Oluwapelumi Divine, a final-year Electronic and Electrical Engineering student at LAUTECH, described the experience as “very exhausting,” saying that beyond lectures and project work, many students constantly think about what comes next after leaving the university.

For Dumebi Victor, a final-year student at the University of Ibadan, the pressure extends beyond completing his degree. He explained that maintaining or improving his academic standing while handling project work and preparing for life after school has been overwhelming.

Academically, many Nigerian students identified project work as one of the biggest sources of pressure. Omotade said research has required him to spend countless hours in front of a laptop, moving through journals, PDFs, and academic materials in search of relevant information.

Margaret shared a similar experience, explaining that research, consultations with supervisors, writing, and continuous corrections have left her with very little personal time. However, she noted that the experience has strengthened her research skills, time management, and ability to work independently.

Although Dumebi is still in the early stages of his project, he said writing the first two chapters has already changed his daily routine. He now spends more time in the library, visits his department more frequently to meet with his supervisor, and interacts with people whose previous work relates to his research topic.

The emotional impact of these demands was another recurring theme. An OAU student explained that the lack of support from some lecturers and even friends made the final year even more difficult. The constant cycle of research, printing, corrections, and meeting deadlines, the student said, has taken a toll on the mental well-being of many final-year students.

Others admitted experiencing stress and burnout but shared different ways of coping. Margaret said she manages stressful periods by planning her schedule, taking short breaks, praying, and leaning on family and friends for encouragement. Dumebi also relies on careful planning and makes time to rest whenever the pressure becomes overwhelming.

Omotade, on the other hand, jokingly remarked that “everything is usually fine when you eat,” highlighting how students often find simple ways to relieve stress during difficult periods. Financial constraints also emerged as a major challenge.

OAU students noted that project expenses, printing, research materials, transportation, and other graduation requirements continue to increase, making the final year especially difficult for students with limited financial support.

Margaret from the University of Ibadan agreed, adding that balancing academic responsibilities with project costs, professional registration, and other graduation expenses has been one of her biggest struggles. Despite this, she believes the experience has taught her valuable lessons in planning and prioritisation.

Students’ experiences with lecturers were far from uniform 

A final-year Geology student at OAU described receiving consistent encouragement and guidance from her project supervisor throughout the research process, saying the support made her project much easier to complete.

In contrast, another OAU student from the Faculty of Education said he received little support from lecturers and had to navigate much of the project process on his own. According to him, supervisors were not particularly helpful, making the experience more stressful than it should have been.

A Lecturer, Professor A.O Ajani, a professor of Sociology who spoke on the issue acknowledged that the final year is naturally demanding and encouraged students to remain focused despite the challenges.

He advised undergraduates to manage their time effectively, begin projects early, communicate regularly with their supervisors, and seek help whenever necessary instead of struggling in silence.

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He also reminded students not to allow their academic results to define their future completely. “Even if you do not graduate with your desired result, opportunities still exist beyond the university, You still have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t let your grades become the measure of your entire life,” the lecturer advised.

Beyond academics, many Nigerian final-year students stressed that preparing for life after graduation requires more than earning good grades.

Fowobaje Israel, a final-year Electrical Engineering student at OAU, encouraged younger students to identify their interests early, avoid unnecessary distractions, and intentionally build practical skills before graduation.

He noted that networking confidently, seeking meaningful professional relationships, and gaining relevant experience alongside academic performance give graduates a stronger advantage in today’s labour market.

Margaret also highlighted the importance of leadership, writing, teamwork, and networking through campus organisations and professional relationships, while Omotade said he is developing competence in embedded systems engineering, communication, leadership, and people management.

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For Dumebi, preparing for the future means learning data analytics and other technology-related skills while drawing entrepreneurial lessons from his family’s business. He also believes that leadership roles and participation in university programmes have equipped him with valuable experience that will be useful after leaving the four walls of the school.

Although every student’s journey is peculiar, the interviews reveal a common reality: the final year is not simply about completing a project or passing examinations.

It is a period that tests resilience, discipline, financial endurance, emotional strength, and the ability to prepare for life beyond the university. As graduation draws closer, many students are learning that finishing strong requires not only academic excellence but also determination, adaptability, and the willingness to build skills and relationships that will serve them long after they leave campus.