OAU Students’ Union has rejected the university’s new dress code, calling it a rights violation.
They urged management to reverse the policy and respect students’ freedom of expression and identity.
The Great Ife Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has strongly opposed the newly approved dress code by the university’s Governing Council, calling it a violation of students’ fundamental rights.
In a statement released on Thursday, July 24, 2025, and signed by President-elect Adelani Oluwatodimu, Secretary-General-elect Habeeb Isa, and PRO-elect Olowosile Oreoluwa, the union criticised the so-called “alleged dress code policy” introduced by the university authorities.
“We remain committed to protecting our rights,” the statement read, referencing the backlash against a similar circular issued in 2023, which was later reversed after student protests.
The union described the sanctions in the new code such as rustication for one or two semesters over certain dress choices as “harsh” and “archaic.” They argued such punishment goes against the rights to freedom of expression, personal style, and liberty as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
According to the union, “The introduction of sanctions such as rustication 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 of the Constitution.”
The students also claimed the policy poses a threat to other constitutional freedoms, including freedom of thought and religion (Section 38), movement (Section 41), and protection from discrimination (Section 42).
Calling on the university to withdraw the policy as it did in 2023, the union urged students to stay united in resisting policies “that threaten to restrict freedom of appearance, belief, or identity.”
The revised dress code, approved by the Governing Council in a document dated June 13, 2025, came after recommendations from the Division of Student Affairs and the Legal Review Committee. The document stated that the aim was to encourage public decency and enhance campus security.
The code prescribes rustication for one semester for students wearing dreadlocks, crop tops, off-shoulder clothes, tattoos, or sagging trousers. Other violations, such as coloured hair or “unwelcome touching” of the opposite sex, could lead to two semesters of rustication.
However, the Legal Review Committee had advised a more balanced approach, recommending official warnings for first-time offenders and clearer language in the policy. They specifically advised against vague terms like “sexually provocative dresses,” proposing the use of “indecent dressing” to avoid ambiguity.
In closing, the Students’ Union appealed to the university and relevant stakeholders to promote an inclusive and respectful academic atmosphere one that allows students to express their identities without fear of unjust punishment.
