The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has addressed the controversial directive on a new dress code, which has stirred up controversey on social media.
OAU’s management claimed it was 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 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.