SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF MARKETS AND EDUCATIONAL ACCESSIBILITY IN OYO TOWNSHIP, NIGERIA

This researc examines the critical relationship between the geographical placement of markets in Oyo Town, Nigeria, and the ability of households to secure essential educational resources. Employing a mixed methods design, the study integrates spatial analysis with socio-economic surveys to unravel how proximity to major markets shapes household income, the affordability of school materials, and the daily economic realities influencing children's school attendance. Our findings uncover pronounced disparities in market access across different neighbourhoods, which in turn directly correlate with families' capacity to procure learning materials and manage school-related costs. Households located farther from key commercial centres frequently contend with inflated prices and scarce supplies of basic educational items, thereby exacerbating existing inequities in educational participation. This study illuminates the intersection of economic geography and social outcomes, providing a nuanced understanding of how market structures influence household welfare and educational equity within a dynamic, urbanizing African context. The evidence underscores the imperative for policies that acknowledge local economic geography as a fundamental determinant of educational opportunity.