Great controversy surrounds a universityin Nigeria after the circulation of a viral video, showing how female students at the institution are subjected to a check to verify the use of a bra before being allowed to enter exams. The incident, which has sparked widespread "outrage on social media nationwide", reopens the debate on dress codes implemented in the university.
The video shows two women "touching the breasts of the students in line as they pass" to the exam room at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), in the state of Ogun, Nigeria. Some students from the institution have confirmed that the recording was made at the school. One of them defended to CNN the policy of "no bra, no entry".
"Draconian" and "Arbitrary" Policy
The student union leader of OOU, Muizz Olanrewaju, has tried to justify the measure in a post on Tuesday, stating that the bra check is "not a new policy" at the school. According to Olatunji, this policy "promotes a dress code policy aimed at maintaining a respectful and distraction-free environment, encouraging students to dress modestly and in line with the institution's values". He shared excerpts of the alleged school regulations, which describe "indecent dressing" as showing "sensitive parts of the body 'such as breasts, buttocks, nipples, and navels'", including "any clothing that could make the same sex or opposite sex desire the student in an indecent manner".
However, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has described OOU's bra policy as "draconian" and "arbitrary", warning that it "could amount to some form of sexual harassment". Effiong told CNN that "physically examining the bodies of students to determine if they are wearing a bra or not, is not only degrading but also undignified". The lawyer also pointed out that "there could be medical reasons why certain students do not feel comfortable wearing a bra at a given time", and that applying the policy "without exceptions or considering individual circumstances is arbitrary" and could lead to legal actions.
Faced with mounting pressure, student leader Olatunji indicated in another post on Tuesday that "discussions are ongoing with the OOU administration 'to explore alternative approaches to address indecent dressing, focusing on respectful and dignified interactions between students and staff'".