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Availability and Status of Recreational Facilities in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria
Subject area: Science,Engineering and Technology · Area of research: Urban and Regional Planning
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722571
Abstract
Recreational facilities are important components of tertiary-institution environments because they support physical activity, social interaction, relaxation and general well-being. However, the presence of recreational infrastructure does not necessarily indicate adequacy, functionality or satisfactory physical condition. This study assessed the availability and status of recreational facilities in five selected tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. The study population comprised 88,252 students and academic staff across the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic and Captain Elechi-Amadi Polytechnic. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample of 398 respondents was determined, of whom 389 valid questionnaires were retrieved, giving a response rate of 97.7%. Respondent data were complemented by a census assessment of identifiable recreational facilities using an observation checklist. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation and independent-samples t-tests were used for analysis at the 0.05 significance level. Football pitches, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, jogging tracks and recreational open spaces were available across all five institutions, whereas swimming pools were present in only one institution. The observed facilities recorded an overall mean status score of 2.81, indicating generally good physical status under the study's stated classification scheme, although maintenance and cleanliness received comparatively lower ratings. Respondents reported inadequate provision and insufficient capacity, despite generally favourable perceptions of accessibility and safety. Significant associations were observed between institution and facility availability, adequacy, accessibility, functionality and satisfaction (p < .05). Facility characteristics were positively associated with user satisfaction, with adequacy showing the strongest relationship (r = .52, p < .001). The findings indicate that recreational provision varies considerably across institutions and that improving maintenance, adequacy and equitable access should be prioritised in tertiary-institution planning and facility management.
Keywords
Recreational facilities, tertiary institutions, availability, adequacy, facility condition, maintenance, user satisfaction
References
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How to cite this paper
@article{1722571,
author = {Ikpoku Isaiah Omemam, Weje Innocent Ikezam, Anthony Le-Ol, Evengeline Nkiru, Ameme Godfrey Bright},
title = {Availability and Status of Recreational Facilities in Selected Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {2520-2529},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/17225711.pdf},
abstract = {Recreational facilities are important components of tertiary-institution environments because they support physical activity, social interaction, relaxation and general well-being. However, the presence of recreational infrastructure does not necessarily indicate adequacy, functionality or satisfactory physical condition. This study assessed the availability and status of recreational facilities in five selected tertiary institutions in Rivers State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. The study population comprised 88,252 students and academic staff across the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State University, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic and Captain Elechi-Amadi Polytechnic. Using the Taro Yamane formula, a sample of 398 respondents was determined, of whom 389 valid questionnaires were retrieved, giving a response rate of 97.7%. Respondent data were complemented by a census assessment of identifiable recreational facilities using an observation checklist. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, Pearson correlation and independent-samples t-tests were used for analysis at the 0.05 significance level. Football pitches, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, jogging tracks and recreational open spaces were available across all five institutions, whereas swimming pools were present in only one institution. The observed facilities recorded an overall mean status score of 2.81, indicating generally good physical status under the study's stated classification scheme, although maintenance and cleanliness received comparatively lower ratings. Respondents reported inadequate provision and insufficient capacity, despite generally favourable perceptions of accessibility and safety. Significant associations were observed between institution and facility availability, adequacy, accessibility, functionality and satisfaction (p < .05). Facility characteristics were positively associated with user satisfaction, with adequacy showing the strongest relationship (r = .52, p < .001). The findings indicate that recreational provision varies considerably across institutions and that improving maintenance, adequacy and equitable access should be prioritised in tertiary-institution planning and facility management.},
keywords = {Recreational facilities, tertiary institutions, availability, adequacy, facility condition, maintenance, user satisfaction},
month = {August},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I2-1722571}
}