OAU Releases New Controversial Dress Code Policy, Threatens Rustication for Violators

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has issued a controversial strict new dress code policy, warning that any student who violates the stipulated guidelines risks being rusticated for up to two semesters.

According to an internal document titled “Decision Extract” dated June 13, 2025, the university management cited “the contemporary trend of events” as justification for the new disciplinary measures. The policy outlines a wide range of clothing and appearance choices that are now considered misconduct on campus.

Students found guilty of wearing any of the following will face a one-semester rustication: sexually provocative dresses, backless clothes, transparent or off-shoulder wears, bomb shorts, tattered jeans, dreadlocks, micro/mini/skimpy dresses, crop/jump tops, multi-coloured braids (for females), tattoos (for males), unconventional face caps, heavy make-up, sagging trousers, and T-shirts with obscene inscriptions.

The list also includes disciplinary action against students sporting rumpled or dirty clothing, nose/mouth/eye piercings, unconventional haircuts with inscriptions, and even male students plaiting or weaving their hair. Furthermore, more severe sanctions await students found guilty of specific infractions, including rustication for two semesters. These include: coloured hair, sponged hairstyles for males, hair braiding by male students, unwelcome touching, kissing or hugging of the opposite sex, and massaging or sitting on another student’s lap. The new dress code has sparked mixed reactions among students and alumni, with many expressing concerns about its implications on students’ personal expression and freedom.