Vol. 33(3), 2023 62 Australian and International Journal of Rural Education Risk Management and Student Enrolment at Universities in Rural Areas of Nigeria Anthony Abiodun Eniola Great Zimbabwe University aeniola@gzu.ac.zw Zhaxat Kenzhin Academy of Physical Education and Mass Sport, Astana, Kazakhstan info@apems.edu.kz Menslu Sultanova West Kazakhstan Agrarian Technical University, Uralsk, Kazakhstan zapkazatu@wkau.kz Abstract This study sought to determine whether students’ perceptions of health, security, and environmental risks influence student enrolment at private universities in rural areas of Nigeria, as well as whether security risks mediate the correlations between the variables in the study. The research utilised multistage sampling approaches to ascertain and analyse scientific knowledge on the impact of the perceptions of the three risk management variables on students from three different universities situated in the north central and southwest regions and across six academic branches of learning. To analyse the study, the generalised structured component analysis method was used. The findings reveal that perceptions about environmental and health risks are very important and vital for university enrolment as well as performance. Although security is crucial, the results show that enrolment performance is notably moderate. This study concludes that examining risk linkages and correlations is a critical consideration for ensuring the sustainability and development of Nigeria’s higher education sector, as well as its strategic management. Keywords: risk management, universities, health risks, student enrolment, security risks, environmental risks, rural education Introduction Nigeria is mostly a rural society, with most of its population residing in rural areas (Bolaji et al., 2019). Even though Nigeria’s rural residents are not usually included in government development projects, the country’s wealth comes from its rural areas (Olawale, 2016). Prioritising the development of urban centres at the time, rural areas were excluded. In response to the call for development in rural areas, universities are designed to meet the requirements of host small towns and have been recently built in these places (Uleanya et al., 2020), primarily by private education investors. One of the factors that can contribute to local economic development in rural regions is the establishment and development of quality university education, which can also aid rural communities in coping with a rapidly changing environment (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2021). However, establishing universities in rural areas