'Only wear a bra to exams': Nigerian university rule sparks outrage

The video clearly shows female officers touching the breasts of female students queuing to enter the exam hall.

7959 views 3 comment(s)
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

A university in Nigeria has come under fire after a video surfaced on social media showing staff checking whether female students were wearing bras before entering an exam room.

The video clearly shows female officers touching the breasts of female students who are queuing to enter the exam hall.

This action caused a storm of public outcry and condemnation from many, with human rights activists comparing this behavior to sexual harassment.

The university has not yet made an official statement regarding the incident, but a student representative has defended the dress code policy that requires wearing a bra.

According to him, the goal of this rule is to "ensure there are no distractions during the exam."

However, he acknowledged that this way of enforcing the rules needs to be changed.

Critics have called this practice archaic, sexist and completely unacceptable, stressing that under no circumstances can the physical touching of female students be justified.

Haruna Ajagi, a senior official at a human rights group Human Rights Network she told the BBC that female students could sue the university for violating their rights.

"Unjustly touching another person's body is a violation of rights and could lead to legal action."

"The university authorities were wrong to adopt this method," Ajagi said.

A student who did not want to be named told the BBC that the university enforces a strict moral code even though it is not a religious institution.

He claims they constantly check their clothes.

In response to the outcry, the university's student union president, Muiz Olatundji, wrote on X.com that the university promotes "a dress code policy aimed at maintaining a respectful environment, encouraging students to dress modestly and in accordance with the values ​​of the institution."

This policy is not new and the union has "engaged to explore other approaches to addressing the issue of inappropriate dress, focusing on dignified interactions between students and staff" at the University, he added.

A dress code has also been published, prohibiting the wearing of clothing deemed to "arouse lust in members of the same or opposite sex."

The university was established in 1982 as Ogun State University when Olabisi Onabanjo was the governor of the state.

BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube i Viber. If you have a topic suggestion for us, please contact bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk

Bonus video: