%0 Journal Article
%T Student Housing Infrastructure: Navigating Risks and Opportunities in Emerging Markets Like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa
%A Abel Eseoghene Owotemu
%J Modern Economy
%P 1027-1050
%@ 2152-7261
%D 2025
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/me.2025.167049
%X This study investigates the investment landscape of student housing across four key African countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. The purpose of the paper is to assess the viability of student housing as a resilient and institutional-grade real estate asset class, while identifying effective strategies for risk mitigation and operational management. The research adopts a descriptive and comparative approach, relying on secondary data sources, including educational enrolment trends, gross domestic product growth, cost of capital, and student housing demand across the selected markets. Findings reveal a persistent and growing demand for student housing, driven by expanding university enrolments, urbanization, and a cultural emphasis on higher education across Africa. However, the sector remains challenged by regulatory inconsistencies, financing constraints, currency volatility, and inadequate infrastructure. The study highlights the importance of purpose-built student accommodation, the role of public-private partnerships, and the increasing involvement of institutional investors such as real estate investment trusts. Practical recommendations include adopting sustainability-focused design, diversifying funding mechanisms, and enhancing operational efficiency through technology and data-driven decision-making. This paper contributes original insights by framing student housing as an inelastic and underexplored investment class in emerging African markets. It offers a regional perspective on how investors and policymakers can collaborate to address infrastructure gaps while achieving long-term, risk-adjusted returns. The findings are of particular value to developers, institutional investors, university administrators, and public sector planners seeking to integrate education-led real estate development into broader economic and urban policy strategies.
%K Student Housing
%K Real Estate Investment
%K Social Infrastructure
%K Risk Mitigation
%K Operational Management
%K Nigeria
%K Ghana
%K Kenya
%K South Africa
%K Public-Private Partnerships
%K Emerging Markets
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=144110