Implementation of a Student Hostel Allocation System for Federal University of Technology, Minna

Hostel allocation processes at Nigerian federal universities are often characterised by favouritism, incomplete records, and logistical confusion that disadvantages new and returning students. This project implements a student hostel allocation system for the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUT Minna), Niger State, North Central Nigeria. The system is developed using Ruby on Rails with a PostgreSQL database and a responsive web interface. The agile Scrum methodology guides four development sprints, with feedback from the FUT Minna Student Affairs Directorate and 100 student pilot users. Core features include hostel availability management, preference-based student application, automated randomised allocation for fairness, payment verification via Remita API, and room change request workflows. Evaluation examined allocation cycle time, conflict rate, and student satisfaction over two accommodation cycles. Results show that allocation disputes decreased by 73 percent and the administrative processing time per allocation cycle was cut by 61 percent. The study recommends biometric room access integration and alumni block designation as future enhancements. This research contributes a transparent, automated hostel management solution that upholds institutional fairness and reduces the administrative burden on student affairs offices at North Central universities. Keywords: hostel allocation, FUT Minna, student affairs, Remita, accommodation management