A storm of public outrage has erupted in Nigeria after a viral video surfaced showing female students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State being physically checked by staff to ensure they were wearing bras before being allowed into an examination hall. The footage, which has since spread widely across social media platforms, shows female staff members touching students’ chests as they lined up for their exams an act that many Nigerians, including human rights advocates, have strongly condemned as invasive, sexist, and a form of sexual assault.
While the university has yet to release an official statement addressing the incident, the institution’s strict dress code is at the center of the controversy. Defending the policy, Muizz Olatunji, President of the university’s Students’ Union, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the regulation is intended to promote a “distraction-free and respectful academic environment.” However, he acknowledged the need for alternative, more respectful methods of enforcement that do not involve physical contact.
The student dress code at OOU explicitly bans clothing that could cause members of the opposite or same sex to “lust” after a student and includes restrictions on certain fashion choices such as short skirts, sleeveless tops, and tight-fitting clothes. Despite not being a religious institution, students say the university enforces a rigid moral standard, including routine clothing checks before exams and lectures.
Critics say the policy, and particularly the method of enforcement seen in the video, is not only outdated but violates basic human rights and bodily autonomy. Haruna Ayagi, a senior official at the Human Rights Network, told the BBC that the university’s actions constitute a breach of personal rights and could lead to legal consequences. “Unwarranted touches on another person’s body is a violation and could lead to legal action. The university is wrong to adopt this method to curb indecent dressing,” he said.
A female student who requested anonymity described the atmosphere at OOU as oppressive, where students, particularly women, are constantly scrutinized based on their appearance. “We’re not in a religious school, yet we are constantly judged and examined not for our academics but for our attire,” she said.
Founded in 1982 as Ogun State University and renamed Olabisi Onabanjo University in 2001 in honor of the former state governor, the institution is now facing mounting pressure to review its policies. Rights groups, students, and alumni are calling for the university to abandon physical enforcement methods and adopt more respectful approaches that uphold students’ dignity and rights.
The incident has also reignited a broader debate across Nigeria about policing women’s bodies in educational institutions, gender-based discrimination, and the thin line between maintaining discipline and enforcing oppressive control. As criticism continues to mount, all eyes remain on OOU’s administration to respond to the controversy and take meaningful steps to prevent future rights violations.
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