Outrage as Nigerian university insists on brassiere before exams
By DL News
Published
1 min read
The viral footage captures moments where female staff members are seen touching the chests of students lining up outside an exam hall at the institution, located in Ogun State.
Outrage as Nigerian University Staff Physically Check Female Students for Bras Before Exams
A storm of criticism has erupted in Nigeria after a video surfaced showing female students at Olabisi Onabanjo University being physically inspected by staff before sitting for exams—allegedly to ensure they were wearing bras.
The viral footage captures moments where female staff members are seen touching the chests of students lining up outside an exam hall at the institution, located in Ogun State. The act, intended as an enforcement of the university’s dress code, has been slammed as degrading, invasive, and tantamount to sexual harassment.
Although university authorities have remained silent on the issue, a student union leader defended the policy, claiming it aims to uphold decency and prevent distractions during academic activities. Still, he conceded that more respectful and appropriate methods are needed to enforce such guidelines.
Human rights advocates have condemned the university’s actions. Haruna Ayagi of the Human Rights Network told the BBC that the practice could amount to a rights violation and possibly lead to legal consequences. “No one has the right to touch another person without consent, especially under the guise of enforcing a dress code,” he said.
Some students have also raised concerns about the university's strict moral expectations. One unnamed student said that despite being a secular institution, the school routinely monitors how female students dress.
In an attempt to address the backlash, Students’ Union President Muizz Olatunji took to social media platform X to reaffirm the university's commitment to modest dressing. He shared the institution’s official dress code, which includes a prohibition on any attire that could be considered sexually provocative.
The university, established in 1982 and renamed after former state governor Olabisi Onabanjo in 2001, now finds itself at the center of a national debate on student rights, bodily autonomy, and appropriate methods for enforcing institutional values.
