By Abdulrasaq Nafisat Taiye
Across Nigerian universities, the statistics of young women who are juggling the demands of student life with the responsibilities of motherhood are happening at increasing speed. In this story, PEN PRESS’ Abdulrasaq Nafisat Taiye narrated the struggles of these student-mothers whose stories are rarely amplified.
It was a joyful day when shifau had her first child. The stars were bright and the moon was shining, knowing the nine-month journey hadn’t been in vain. Despite being an undergraduate, she hadn’t thought that having a child would hinder her academic journey unlike what others might think. “I do miss lectures sometimes, especially those education courses and I do make up for it by reading all night sometimes.”
A final year student of Education Economics, Bashir Shifau Omolara, had her child when she was in 300-level which made her to miss three exams, leading to carryover. “I have never missed an exam or test, I would rather not sleep or go to the exam or test hall without reading and when I just gave birth I have 3 carryovers and I have to re-sit for the exams.”
As a nursing mother, Shifau always strives to attend lectures and be attentive in class but she’s often unable to jot down notes because of her child.
“Well, I do listen to lectures but unable to take notes because the boy will be dragging a pen and a book even if I went to the class with 5 pens he will collect it all and you know listening only can not help so I will borrow notes from my coursemate and write it when he’s asleep.”
Meanwhile, one fateful day, Shifau got upset by her document which was spoiled by her child and make her to beat him
“There was a day when I finished writing my lesson plan and scheme of work. He tore the scheme of work and I was looking for another sheet in my bag to write another one. Then I look back to see that he has soaked the lesson plan with water. That was the first day I beat him.”
Also, Usman Jamila Darhela, 500-level from the Agricultural department expressed how she’s coping with her child whenever she’s awake during lecture which will be difficult for her to continue concentrating on.
“To be sincere, when she’s awake I will not be able to be attentive, because she will want me to give her my attention but I couldn’t, so if she starts crying I have to leave the class so that I will not distract my colleague.”
Despite struggling to take care of her child, Jamila has never missed lectures but she has been sent out of class because of her.
“I don’t miss any lecture because of her, but I was only sent out of class because she is crying, and when the lecture is about calculation I normally take her to the woman who sells food in our faculty.”
Recognizing the importance of motherly care, Jemila balanced her academic journey with childcare responsibilities without hiring a nanny.
“I don’t have a nanny, I’m the nanny of my daughter because I don’t trust anyone to take care of her if they’re not dat close to me.
During exam periods, Jemila always found it difficult to study unless her child was asleep and she often woke up at midnight to read.
“It’s not easy, I used to play with her during the day when we were writing exams, after she slept off,I would start reading immediately, and at night if she slept off I would wake up to continue reading.”
Data Highlighting the Struggles of Student-Mothers
While there aren’t Nigeria-specific large-scale statistics on the exact number of student-mothers, research shows student-mothers frequently struggle with balancing academic and childcare demands, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the 2016 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rate in Nigeria is 17%. However, some local hospital-based Nigerian studies report higher rates of 52.6% in Owo, Ondo State and 86.2% at Ile-Ife baby-friendly facilities.
A 2017 study shows that, student-mothers in Nigeria also face stigma, lack of on-campus crèches, inflexible attendance policies, and academic setbacks. In another study, 86.2% of nursing mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding, and 78.3% began breastfeeding within 1 hour of delivery. Thousand Day also said that Nigeria’s low exclusive breastfeeding rate contributes to childhood malnutrition.
Expert reacts
Ms.Fatimah Hamid, a recent graduate of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and gender advocate shared her insight on the stereotypes student-mothers face on campus and their effect.
“Student mothers tend to face stereotypes as they are perceived as different among their peers. They have had an addition to their responsibilities, and some people question how a student can balance having a child. Some individuals make derogatory comments, such as, “How on earth can a student take care of a child when she’s supposed to focus on her studies?”
Some of their friends even stop being friends with them because they feel like they are no longer in their league. Additionally, some lecturers are not supportive of student-mothers, with some not allowing them in class, Fatimah said.
Also, Ms. Fatimah emphasized that universities should offer flexible attendance policies for student-mothers and encourage the lecturer to stop seeing them as a distraction in their class.
“Universities should offer flexible attendance or waivers for student-mothers who are unable to attend classes due to overwhelming workloads. Lecturers should also be understanding and stop viewing student-mothers as distractions in class.”
However, she urged the government funds Universities creches and offer scholarships to low income students, which address the financial constraints that lagirls opt for marriage due to lack of financial status.
“The government should allocate funds to universities to build crèches where student-mothers can drop off their children while attending classes. Additionally, scholarships should be provided to students from low-income or less privileged homes, as this would help eradicate the reason why some girls opt for marriage due to their financial status,” she concluded.