OAU Clarifies Viral Dress Code Document for Students

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has responded to the widespread circulation of a controversial dress code, clarifying that the document has not yet been approved by the institution’s governing council.

The draft policy, which has sparked intense backlash online, outlines potential disciplinary actions — including rustication — for students who engage in certain dress and behavioral practices. These include sagging trousers, dreadlocks, tattoos, public kissing, bum shorts, sexually suggestive clothing, coloured hairstyles, unkempt appearance, and T-shirts with offensive or immoral messages. Public displays of affection such as hugging or kissing members of the opposite sex, and hair braiding for male students are also reportedly banned.

The proposal drew heavy criticism from students and social media users, many of whom condemned it as unconstitutional and a violation of personal rights.

However, speaking to Premium Times on Thursday, July 24, 2025, OAU spokesperson Abiodun Olarewaju stated that the document in circulation is only a draft and has not received formal approval.

“We haven’t finalized many aspects of the policy. What’s making rounds was leaked prematurely,” Olarewaju explained.

He confirmed that the university is indeed developing a dress code to uphold standards of decency, emphasizing that OAU degrees are awarded “in character and in learning.”

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“There’s no way to uphold character and learning without some level of decency, especially in how students dress. Once the policy is officially approved, we’ll release it publicly so students understand that certain modes of dressing may conflict with the university’s academic and moral values,” he said.