The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State has outlawed hugging, kissing, heavy makeup and indecent dressing on the campus forthwith.
The institution approved the proposal for the review of dress code for students drafted by the Division of Student Affairs(DSA) in May 2023 after it was perused by the Legal Review Committee of the institution.
The review prescribed one semester rustication for sexually provocative dresses, backless clothes, transparent wears, Off-shoulder clothes, bomb shorts, tattered jeans, dread locks, faring for male/cowries for female, micro/mini/skimpy dress, sagging for male/female and hair braiding for male.
Also, one semester rustication was set for nose, mouth, eye, extra rings, unconventional wearing of face cap,tattoo/indelible markings for male, crop/jump tops, multi-coloured braid for female, haircuts with inscriptions, T-shirts with obscene inscriptions depicting immorality, hooliganism, etc., heavy make-ups, rumpled and dirty clothes and Hair plaiting or weaving by male students.
It was noted that any student found guilty of violation of coloured hair styles, hair braiding for male, spangled hair style for male, unwelcome touching, kissing and hugging of opposite sex and massaging or sitting on the lap opposite sex in the university risks rustication for two (2) semesters.
A memo with reference number R/DCA/C/ lB/XVI/12/266 dated June 13th 2025 signed by the Registrar of the institution, K. A Bakare approved the review.
The memo reads “Council received and considered Paper No. 5659, which contained the proposal for the Review of the Dress Code for Students of the University. Council noted that the paper had passed through the due process of review by the appropriate organs of the University.
“After due deliberation, Council APPROVED the reviewed Dress Code for Students of the University as presented.”
But students through its Union leaders in a statement co-signed by the President-elect, Oluwatodimu Adelani, Secretary General, Oke
Habeeb and PRO, Olowosile Oreoluwa kicked against the review.
They opposed the consideration of the dress code policy, stressing that they will protect their rights as the sanctions are too harsh and infringe on freedom of expression as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution.
According to them: “OAU campus is a place of learning, and the introduction of sanctions such as rustication for one or two semesters for perceived misconducts stifles and violates students’ fundamental rights to freedom of expression, personal style, and individuality. It also undermines the right to personal liberty as enshrined in Section 35 CFRN, and may infringe on Section 37, which protects the privacy of citizens, including how they choose to present themselves.
“We hereby call on the management to, just like it did in 2023, totally distance itself from these punitive measures that we find archaic and detrimental to the learning process.”
The tasked all students to stand in unity against any measures that seek to undermine their rights.
OAU clarifies viral dress code as students union rejects directive
Meanwhile, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has clarified that the controversial dress code circulating on social media is only a draft and has not been officially approved by the university’s governing council.
The university had listed prohibited dress styles and accessories, including dreadlocks, heavy makeup, nose rings, multi-coloured hairstyles, and hair braiding for male students.
It also proposed rustication of one or two semesters for students found violating the proposed code.
The draft, which DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS gathered surfaced online earlier this week, contained a detailed list of what it termed indecent dressing.
Offences included transparent clothing, bum shorts, tattered jeans, sagging trousers, tattoos, off-shoulder tops, crop tops, and any T-shirt with obscene inscriptions depicting immorality or hooliganism.
Also included in the document were bans on unconventional wearing of face caps, faring and cowries, haircuts with inscriptions, and unwelcome touching, hugging or kissing of the opposite sex.
The draft document added that both male and female students must avoid styles deemed to undermine moral or academic integrity.
However, on Thursday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the dress code is not final and has yet to receive the approval of the university’s governing council.
The clarification came after reports in some media claimed the university had banned heavy makeups, sagging, tattoos and others in a new policy, and even threatened to rusticate erring students.
“So we have not finalised so many things there, but some people just smuggled it out to alert the public. The management is currently applying finishing touches to the proposed code and will officially release it once concluded,” he said.
He explained the university’s rationale, saying, “The university is working on the dress code because after completion of their studies, the certificates read that they are awarded in character and in learning.
“There is no way somebody can be rewarding learning and character without some degree of decency, particularly in the mode of dressing,” Olarewaju added.
“When we are done with it, we will make it public so that our students, particularly, will know that in the university, there are ways you dress that will not insult the academic sensibilities and moral sanctity of some other people,” he said.
Reacting swiftly, the Students’ Union of the university rejected the proposed dress code, describing it as outdated and repressive.
