STUDENT HOUSING SATISFACTION AND THE PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING FORMS AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS IN ZURU, NIGERIA

This study examined student housing satisfaction and the perceived importance of building forms and architectural elements among students in Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria, using Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru (FUAZ) as the study context. A mixed-method approach combining a questionnaire survey with open-ended responses was adopted. From a population of 1,136 undergraduate students, a sample size of 296 was determined using Yamane's formula, while 194 valid questionnaires were returned, representing a 65.5% response rate. Respondents lived in university hostels (28.9%), private hostels (14.4%), rented apartments (31.4%) and family residences (24.2%); results were analysed for the pooled sample and therefore describe general student housing conditions rather than hostel-specific building forms. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, standard deviations and ranking, were used for analysis. Findings showed generally neutral satisfaction with existing accommodation, with mean scores ranging from 2.72 to 3.21. Accessibility and ease of movement recorded the highest satisfaction, while circulation recorded the lowest. Students rated adequate room arrangement, natural ventilation, accessible circulation, outdoor seating and natural lighting as particularly important. Courtyard form was also highly rated. Outdoor relaxation spaces, dedicated study rooms, indoor recreation, landscaped courtyards and universal accessibility were the most preferred features. The study concludes that user satisfaction is associated with functional spatial organization, environmental quality, accessibility, privacy, safety, academic support and opportunities for social and recreational interaction. Further research should disaggregate respondents by accommodation type and document the surveyed buildings with measured drawings.