“To Become Somebody in the Future”: Exploring the Content of University Students’ Goals in Nigeria

Abstract Youths’ self-articulated goals in sub-Saharan Africa are often missing from scholarly and development discourses, creating a challenge for those aiming to establish effective development programs and policies. This chapter explores the goals of undergraduate university students in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, drawing on data from 23 in-depth interviews, 7 focus group discussions, and a survey of 267 undergraduate students in universities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria collected between July 2012 and September 2013. Through a grounded theory analysis of the data collected, 40 specific goals were identified and developed into four categories: achievement, material, generativity, and relationship. The findings are useful for further research on aspirations and the design, monitoring, and evaluation of development programs that are sensitive and relevant to the needs of young people.