AWARENESS AND PRACTICE OF WATER CONSERVATION AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BENIN STUDENTS
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Abstract
This study examined the Awareness and Practice of Water Conservation among Students of the University of Benin. Five research questions were raised to guide the study, the study sought to determine the level of awareness of water conservation amongstudents, the extent to which they practice water-saving behaviors, the factors influencing their engagement, institutional challenges affecting participation, and students’ perceptions of the university’s role in promoting water conservation. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of 39,037 undergraduate students in fourteen faculties, from which a sample of 204 respondents was drawn using proportional sampling. The instrument for data collection
was a structured twenty-item questionnaire validated by experts, and its reliability was established using the test–retest method, yielding a coefficient of 0.763. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that while students demonstrated high awareness of water, their practical engagement was inconsistent. Most respondents turned off taps after use, but few reported leaks or reused water. Factors such as water shortages, peer influence, and cultural background significantly shaped conservation behavior, while institutional shortcomings like limited sensitization campaigns, poor maintenance systems, and lack of visible infrastructure undermined effective participation. Students also perceived the university’s efforts as insufficient and recommended stronger leadership, policy
inforcement, and integration of conservation education into orientation and campus life. The study concludes that awareness of water conservation among University of Benin students is high but does not consistently translate into practice. It recommends that the University of Benin management should take the lead in integrating water conservation education into student orientation programs and General Studies (GST) courses.
was a structured twenty-item questionnaire validated by experts, and its reliability was established using the test–retest method, yielding a coefficient of 0.763. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that while students demonstrated high awareness of water, their practical engagement was inconsistent. Most respondents turned off taps after use, but few reported leaks or reused water. Factors such as water shortages, peer influence, and cultural background significantly shaped conservation behavior, while institutional shortcomings like limited sensitization campaigns, poor maintenance systems, and lack of visible infrastructure undermined effective participation. Students also perceived the university’s efforts as insufficient and recommended stronger leadership, policy
inforcement, and integration of conservation education into orientation and campus life. The study concludes that awareness of water conservation among University of Benin students is high but does not consistently translate into practice. It recommends that the University of Benin management should take the lead in integrating water conservation education into student orientation programs and General Studies (GST) courses.
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