Spatial Analysis of Students' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Towards Waste Management in Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State

ABSTRACT
Waste management presents a critical global challenge with significant implications for environmental sustainability and public health, a reality acutely felt within Nigeria's rapidly expanding academic institutions like Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). With its increasing student population, FUOYE faces mounting pressure from increasing waste generation, necessitating a thorough understanding of student behaviours. This study conducts a spatial analysis of students' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) towards waste management on FUOYE's Oye campus, aiming to identify current trends and inform targeted interventions. The research addresses four key objectives: evaluating undergraduate students' knowledge of waste management principles, analyzing their attitudes towards waste management practices, exploring their specific waste management practices, and examining the spatial distribution of these practices across the Oye campus. Despite 58.5% of students considering proper waste management "very important" and 79.2% believing it's a personal responsibility (with significant variation by faculty, χ2=26.468,p=0.002), preliminary observations and quantitative data suggest a gap between knowledge, attitude, and actual practice. Only 55.0% of students reported "always" disposing of waste properly, with 39.0% doing so "sometimes," and concerningly, 24.0% admitting to dumping in open spaces and 26.0% to burning waste. Furthermore, a substantial 87.0% reported not participating in any form of waste recycling, reduction, or reuse. The study also revealed a significant infrastructure gap, with 51.0% of respondents indicating no designated waste disposal facilities in their area of residence. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study utilized a structured questionnaire administered to 400 undergraduate students, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map and visualize the spatial patterns of KAP. Findings illuminate specific areas of strength and weakness in students' waste management engagement, identify hotspots of problematic practices, and reveal correlations between demographics, awareness, and behaviour. This evidence-based research provides FUOYE management with actionable recommendations for optimizing waste collection routes, designing effective awareness campaigns, improving infrastructure accessibility, and fostering a greener, more sustainable campus culture. Ultimately, this study contributes significantly to a healthier environment at FUOYE and offers a replicable framework for other Nigerian universities striving to achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).