Ask most researchers about education in Northern Nigeria and the conversation turns quickly to obstacles. Ask Busola Akinbobola, MA, and she will tell you about the students who continued to showed up and their why.
Research on Northern Nigeria has tended to focus on the barriers, why students leave, what prevents enrolment, what structural forces work against access — Busola chose to look in a different direction entirely.
“Rather than focusing on why students drop out, I asked a different question,” she explains. “I wanted to center student voices and lived experiences, especially in contexts where education access is often discussed only in terms of barriers.”
Using a qualitative approach and focus group discussions with students, she explored the motivating factors that sustain engagement with school, including family support, teacher encouragement, peer relationships, and personal aspiration.
The findings carry implications beyond Northern Nigeria. Busola hopes her research will encourage policymakers, educators, and development practitioners to pay closer attention to what is already working within communities.
“By highlighting motivating factors and support systems, my findings offer a more balanced perspective on education access,” she says. “I hope it contributes to programs and policies that strengthen student retention, not just enrolment, and that it helps shift conversations toward student agency and resilience.”
As for her own academic experience, Busola describes her graduate journey as one of growth across every aspect — academic, personal, and professional. She developed qualitative research skills and confidence in her analytical work, but also grew more reflective about her own positionality and the ethical responsibilities that come with research.
“Personally, I became more intentional about the responsibility that comes with research,” she says. “Professionally, the program helped me think more critically about how research can be translated into practical recommendations that actually reach the people who need them.”
She is quick to credit the community around her.
“The openness of the faculty members has been invaluable,” she says. “I know I can approach them with any issue and receive helpful guidance.” Her supervisor, Dr. Bosetti, receives particular recognition. “As an international student who arrived alone, her consistent efforts to check in on me and her unwavering support have made a significant difference in my journey.”
For those preparing to begin their own graduate journeys, Busola offers advice that is practical and philosophical.
“You don’t need to know a lot about a thousand things, but you can know a thousand about one thing. Embrace the learning process and stay committed to your goals. Your dedication and focus will make a significant impact.”
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In recognition of her outstanding research and dedication to education, Busola received the 2025 Master of Arts Outstanding Thesis Award.
“Receiving this award is deeply meaningful. It affirms the value of research that centers student voices and lived experiences, especially in contexts where education access is often discussed only in terms of barriers,” she says. “It also feels like encouragement to continue doing work that connects research to real-world impact.”