By Sulaiman Saheed
Every evening, after nearly 10 hours of lectures, laboratory sessions and library reading, Usmanu Danfodiyo University student Nusaybah Adeola finally returns to her hostel. That time, she is exhausted, hungry and has another night of studying ahead. But instead of buying a hot meal nearby, she begins another search, the one that often ends with snacks, noodles or a long walk outside the university gate.
For many students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS), hunger does not end when lectures are over. While academic activities often stretch into the evening, access to cooked food on campus ends much earlier, leaving students with limited options at night.
Most campus restaurants close before nightfall, leaving only a few roadside vendors selling awara and dankali near the hostels. Although these provide temporary relief, many students say they cannot replace a balanced meal after a long day.
Adeola, a 200-level student of Pure and Environmental Chemistry, said the absence of night canteens has become one of the everyday struggles of campus life.
"Most food vendors close early, making it difficult for students to get decent meals at night, especially within the university," she said.
According to her, the situation affects students who spend long hours in lectures, laboratories and libraries and often have no time to cook.
"Night restaurants are important because many students return late from lectures or reading. Some don't even have the opportunity to cook during the day."
She added that students sometimes trek long distances outside the campus in search of food, while others simply skip meals.
"Some students experience hunger, stress and difficulty concentrating during night reading because there is no food available."
The experience is similar for Abdulrasaq Haneefah, a 300-level Radiography student, whose academic schedule often stretches from morning until evening.
"There is no restaurant that operates at night," Haneefah said. "The only available options are awara and dankali sellers near the hostels. After lectures and study sessions, cooking can be very difficult."
She said many students resort to soft drinks, biscuits and other sugary foods simply because healthier meals are unavailable.
Haneefah recalled one particularly exhausting day when she attended lectures from morning until 6 p.m.
"I returned to the hostel around 7 p.m., prayed and realised I was too tired to cook," she said. "I wished there was a canteen nearby where I could simply buy food, but there wasn't. The restaurants outside the campus were too far away, so I eventually called a friend who shared part of her meal with me."
She believes a university night canteen would reduce the burden on students.
"A nighttime restaurant service would make life easier for students after a stressful day."
The experience at UDUS differs from what students report in some other Nigerian universities.
Grace Ireola, a 400-level Medical Laboratory Science student at University of Lagos, said students on her campus have easier access to food at night.
"Our canteens stay open late, making it easier for students to get meals whenever they need them," she said.
She noted that although some students still buy food outside the campus, the availability of late-night canteens significantly reduces the stress of searching for meals after evening lectures.
At University of Ilorin, the situation is somewhere in between.
Uthman Muminat, an Optometry and Vision Science student, said some canteens remain open until around 11 p.m., although many students still consider the closing time too early.
"Some students return from classes after the canteens have closed," she said. "At that point, some simply go to bed hungry."
Health experts have long linked regular access to nutritious meals with improved learning and wellbeing.
Research published in the journal Nutrients in 2015 found that while excessive unhealthy late-night eating may have negative effects, balanced nighttime meals can support energy levels, recovery and overall health, particularly for active individuals. The study also noted that adequate nutrition during extended periods of activity helps maintain physical and cognitive performance.