Assessment of Inclusive Housing Design Features and Residents' Perception in University Staff Quarters in Southwestern Nigeria

Inclusive housing design has become increasingly important in promoting accessible, safe, and equitable residential environments for diverse user groups. However, limited empirical evidence exists on the availability and performance of inclusive housing features in university staff quarters in Nigeria. This study assessed inclusive housing design features and residents' perceptions in selected university staff quarters in Southwestern Nigeria. Specifically, it examined residents' socio-economic characteristics, identified existing inclusive housing design features, evaluated residents' perceptions of these features, and determined the relationship between residents' characteristics and their perceptions of housing quality. A mixed-methods research design was adopted using structured questionnaires administered to 340 household heads selected through multistage sampling across four federal universities, complemented by field observations. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that 59.4% of respondents were male, while 71.8% had resided in the staff quarters for between one and ten years. Wide entrance doors (67.1%) and step-free entrances (62.9%) were the most commonly available inclusive design features, whereas accessible bathrooms (43.5%) and ramps (40.6%) were relatively inadequate. Residents rated safety and security as the highest-quality inclusive feature (Mean = 3.78), while adaptability of spaces recorded the lowest rating (Mean = 3.64). Income level (Mean = 3.81) was identified as the strongest socio-economic factor influencing perceptions of housing quality. The study concludes that although staff quarters possess several inclusive housing features, significant deficiencies remain in universal accessibility and adaptability. It recommends integrating inclusive design principles into the planning, upgrading, and management of university staff housing to improve accessibility, functionality, and residents' quality of life.