<p>Design and Simulation-Based Feasibility Study of a Resilient Offline-First Campus Mesh Network for Federal Polytechnic Monguno</p>

Federal Polytechnic Monguno operates in one of Nigeria's most digitally isolated environments. Situated in Borno State a region still recovering from the devastating impact of insurgency the institution contends daily with near-total absence of stable internet connectivity, leaving both staff and students cut off from the digital tools that modern polytechnic education demands. Students cannot reach research databases, e-learning platforms, or digital libraries. Staff struggle to share files, conduct meetings, or submit institutional reports through digital channels. Administrative processes that should take minutes stretch into hours, and the broader academic mission of the institution suffers as a consequence. This paper presents a simulation-based feasibility study investigating whether a resilient, solar-powered, offline-first wireless mesh network can provide a practical solution to this digital exclusion challenge. Rather than assuming ideal conditions, the study is grounded in Monguno's actual operational realities unreliable grid power, weak telecom coverage, limited technical capacity, and a post-conflict infrastructure environment. Using wireless mesh networking parameters drawn from comparable low-infrastructure campus scenarios, the study models network topologies, evaluates node placement strategies, estimates bandwidth performance under local usage patterns, and develops a cybersecurity threat assessment appropriate to community-scale academic networks. Findings confirm that an offline-first mesh architecture is technically feasible for Federal Polytechnic Monguno, provided deployment follows a phased approach with strategic node placement, renewable energy integration, and foundational cybersecurity controls. The study recommends that TETFund and institutional management priorities localized campus networking infrastructure rather than awaiting broader national broadband expansion an approach that enables meaningful digital participation independent of external connectivity. The proposed architecture offers a replicable model for similarly underserved tertiary institutions across Nigeria's NorthEast .