INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

The research study examined the influence of environmental factors on academic performance of undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan. The dependent variable is academic performance while the independent variable is environmental factors. The indices of the independent variable are physical, social, economic, cultural, and environmental safety factors. The study adopted descriptive survey design of correlation type and sampled 966 undergraduate students using simple random sampling technique. The research instrument for this study compassed a self-structured questionnaire designed specifically for undergraduates at the University of Ibadan, titled ” the Influence of Environmental Factors on Academic Performance of Undergraduate Students in the University of Ibadan." Six research questions, seven research hypotheses were answered and tested respectively. Descriptive statistics of frequent counts and percentages were used to analyse demographic data, frequent counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation were employed to answer the six research questions while inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) and Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) were used to test all the 7 hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. According to the findings of the study, there is a strong positive relationship between physical environmental factors and academic performance of undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan (r = 0.761, p < 0.05). The study indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between social environmental factors and academic performance (r = 0.688, p < 0.05). Also, the study indicated a significant positive relationship between economic environmental factors and academic performance (r = 0.740, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the study showed a significant positive relationship between cultural environmental factors and academic performance (r = 0.712, p < 0.05). The study also revealed a significant positive relationship between environmental safety factors and academic performance (r = 0.737, p < 0.05). In same vein, the study revealed a significant joint relationship between the predictors (physical environmental facilities, social environmental factors, economic resources, cultural environment, and environmental safety factors) and the academic performance of undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan, [F(5, 990) = 292.346, p < 0.05, R = 0.772, R² = 0.596, Adj R² = 0.594]. Lastly, the study indicated that among the predictors, physical environmental factors made the highest contribution to academic performance (β = 0.403, p < 0.05). Based on the findings, it is factual that environmental factors influence academic performance of undergraduate students in the University of Ibadan. Recommendations were therefore made that the university should prioritise the improvement of physical infrastructure. The university should increase economic support for students by expanding scholarship opportunities, grants, and work-study programmes. The university should enrich the cultural environment by promoting cultural exchange programmes, events, and activities that celebrate diversity. Also, the university should implement measures to improve environmental safety, such as ensuring the security of campus facilities and providing a safe and secure learning environment.