The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has disowned a widely circulated memo on social media that outlines a stringent dress code allegedly targeted at students of the institution.
The memo, which quickly went viral across various platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter) sparked a wave of criticism and outrage from students and members of the public.
It purportedly imposed strict sanctions, including suspension and rustication, for violations such as wearing ripped jeans, spaghetti tops, crop tops, backless clothing, heavy makeup, and even coloured hairstyles for both male and female students.
However, in a statement to The ICIR on Friday, July 25, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, debunked the memo, asserting that it did not originate from any official channel within the university.
“OAU has not released anything to that effect,” he said. “What you saw going viral is not from us. Definitely, we are going to issue a dress code, but it’s still a work in progress. Those who released that memo are only pretending to represent the university.”
According to Olanrewaju, the memo was not signed by any authorized official, and neither he nor the university registrar had any knowledge of such a directive. “For the time being, I would like people to disregard it in its entirety. The registrar doesn’t know anything about it. I don’t know anything about it either. If such a directive were to come out, it would be duly signed by either myself or the university registrar,” he clarified.
The document in question, posted by an account that falsely bears the university’s name and logo, warned of harsh punishments, such as a semester rustication for wearing crop tops, sagging trousers, or braided hair by male students, and a two-semester rustication for coloured hairstyles.
Reacting to the content, many Nigerians online condemned the circular as unnecessary, draconian, and a distraction from more pressing academic challenges facing tertiary institutions.
While firmly distancing the university from the viral circular, Olanrewaju confirmed that the institution is indeed in the process of formulating an official dress code. He, however, emphasized that no formal policy has yet been issued.
“But definitely, we are coming up with our own dress code,” he said. “We really don’t want our students to just dress anyhow — so that it does not undermine the moral sanctity of the university environment. But for now, that one making the rounds is not from us.”, he added.