Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile‑Ife, Osun State, has stirred national attention with the circulation of a draft dress and conduct code that proposes drastic sanctions—including rustication—for offences ranging from public affection to personal styling choices.
According to the memo dated June 13, 2025 signed by Registrar K. A. Bakare, the draft code, prepared by the Division of Student Affairs and vetted by the university’s Legal Review Committee, bans actions such as kissing, hugging, and sitting on a member of the opposite sex, with penalties ranging up to two semesters rustication .
The proposed revision also targets heavy makeup, dreadlocks, multi-coloured braids, tattoos, crop/tank tops, transparent or sexually provocative clothing, T‑shirts bearing obscene inscriptions, and unconventional accessories like cowries and nose rings. Offenders could face one to two semesters of suspension depending on the severity of the infraction .
Reacting swiftly to the backlash, OAU’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, clarified that what circulated on social media is a draft document that has yet to receive final approval from the university’s Governing Council .
Meanwhile, the Great Ife Students’ Union has rejected the directive outright, branding it archaic and a violation of fundamental rights. In a joint statement, union leaders emphasized that the proposed measures infringe on students’ freedom of expression, personal style, and liberty as guaranteed by Sections 35 and 37 of the Nigerian Constitution .
Critics argue that the university’s focus on appearance ignores the broader crises facing tertiary institutions—such as funding shortages and academic infrastructure deficits. In contrast, supporters of the draft maintain that the university has a duty to uphold character and discipline in alignment with its academic ethos .
As the debate intensifies, OAU management says it is finalizing the policy and will make it public once approved. For now, neither rustications nor new sanctions have been implemented.
