Universities are meant to be places of learning, growth, and intellectual freedom. They should foster environments where students feel safe, respected, and encouraged to express themselves within reasonable bounds. Yet, recent events at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun State, Nigeria, have shone a harsh light on the darker side of enforcing morality and discipline in academic spaces. A video that went viral on social media showing female students being physically checked for bras before being allowed to sit for exams has ignited public outrage, raising important questions about personal dignity, harassment, and the balance between institutional authority and human rights.
The practice, which has reportedly been going on for years at OOU, involves security personnel or staff physically touching female students’ breasts to determine whether they are wearing bras, a requirement supposedly tied to a dress code aimed at curbing “indecent dressing.” For many, this crosses a critical line — from regulation to violation. The deeply invasive nature of the searches has shocked observers and sparked widespread condemnation, especially because the Student Code of Conduct at the university makes no mention of searching students’ underwear or requiring such intrusive checks.
Elizabeth Ajao, a student who spoke anonymously, described the experience as outright harassment rather than mere enforcement of dress rules. Her testimony reveals a troubling dynamic, where women are subjected to unnecessary and humiliating physical contact under the guise of moral policing. Her account of a staff member’s inappropriate comment about her roommate’s breasts exposes a disturbing mix of abuse of power and gender insensitivity. The fact that these checks are performed by female staff members does not mitigate the harm; rather, it complicates the narrative, showing how normalized such violations have become within the institution’s culture.
The idea that students without bras might distract male students during exams sounds, at best, outdated and, at worst, deeply sexist. It puts the onus on female students to regulate male attention rather than addressing the broader question of respectful behavior among all students. The burden placed on women to conform to a narrowly defined dress code reflects societal expectations about female modesty but does so in a way that disregards personal autonomy and bodily integrity.
The broader public reaction, especially on social media platforms like X, has been swift and largely supportive of the students’ rights to dignity and privacy. Many users have rightly described the touching of breasts during searches as assault or harassment. Stories like that of Sheila, a woman who had breast surgery and could not wear a bra, highlight the impracticality and insensitivity of such policies. They reveal how rigid dress codes can ignore important health and personal considerations, punishing individuals who do not conform to arbitrary standards.
The debate over dress codes is not new, but the OOU incident exposes the problematic ways in which policies meant to uphold “morals” can spiral into abuse. The human rights perspective reminds us that universities, while they have the right to regulate student behavior, must do so in a manner that respects personal dignity and avoids public humiliation. Lawyers like Inibehe Effiong have emphasized the importance of balancing institutional values with individual rights. It is one thing to expect students to dress appropriately — covering sensitive parts of the body and maintaining decorum — but quite another to invade their personal space in a manner that feels degrading and invasive.
There is a poignant irony in the fact that some students who were well-dressed according to the dress code were still subjected to these invasive checks. This points to a fundamental flaw in the implementation of the policy: it is vague, open to abuse, and enforced in a way that undermines trust between students and university authorities. The analogy made by a social media user likening the breast checks to someone touching men’s underwear in public drives home the absurdity and inappropriateness of such actions.
This incident also brings to light the challenges of enforcing dress codes in educational institutions. While dress codes can be important for setting standards of professionalism and respect, they become problematic when enforced without sensitivity or clear guidelines. The practice at OOU has turned what should be a simple check into a spectacle of control and humiliation. Students, who are supposed to be treated as emerging adults capable of making reasonable decisions about their attire, are instead subjected to treatment more befitting a disciplinary action in a much younger school.
The university’s own code of conduct mentions penalties like suspension for indecent dressing but does not prescribe methods for enforcement, especially invasive physical searches. This gap creates a dangerous space where staff members can impose personal biases under the guise of policy enforcement. It highlights the urgent need for clear, fair, and humane procedures that uphold the institution’s values without infringing on student rights.
The role of the university student union is significant in this context. While acknowledging the practice is not new, the union’s efforts to engage the administration in seeking respectful alternatives to policing dress codes demonstrate that there is room for dialogue and reform. Their stance shows that students are not passive recipients of these policies but active agents advocating for their dignity and rights.
Looking beyond OOU, this issue resonates in many educational institutions across Nigeria and beyond. Dress codes often reflect deeper cultural attitudes about gender, morality, and authority. They can perpetuate gender inequality by disproportionately targeting female students and policing female bodies. The assumption that women’s clothing or undergarments are responsible for distracting men perpetuates harmful stereotypes and shifts responsibility away from those who should be focused on self-control and respect.
Moreover, the practice of checking for bras or any underwear touches on sensitive topics such as privacy and bodily autonomy — fundamental human rights recognized worldwide. For students who may have medical conditions, such as breast cancer survivors or others with special needs, such policies can cause additional stress and exclusion. Their lived experiences challenge one-size-fits-all rules and call for compassion in enforcement.
The social implications are profound. When students feel humiliated or harassed by those meant to serve and protect them, it erodes trust in educational institutions. Learning environments become spaces of anxiety rather than empowerment. Female students, in particular, may feel discouraged, unsafe, and marginalized, potentially affecting their academic performance and mental well-being.
The incident also raises questions about power dynamics within universities. Staff who conduct these searches wield significant control over students, who are vulnerable in examination settings where stakes are high. Abuse of this power, intentional or not, can create lasting psychological scars and reinforce systemic inequalities.
Changing these entrenched practices requires more than policy revisions; it demands a cultural shift within institutions. Training staff on gender sensitivity, students’ rights, and professional conduct can prevent harassment. Clear protocols that respect privacy while ensuring compliance with reasonable dress standards are essential. Universities must recognize that enforcing morality should never come at the expense of human dignity.
Stories like Elizabeth’s give voice to the lived reality behind the headlines. They remind us that policies and enforcement mechanisms are not abstract concepts but affect real people with emotions, fears, and aspirations. The courage of students to speak out, despite fears of reprisal, reflects a growing awareness and resistance to unjust treatment.
Ultimately, the controversy at OOU challenges us to rethink how educational institutions balance discipline with respect. It asks whether maintaining order and morality should involve invasive scrutiny that violates fundamental rights. The lesson is clear: education is not only about imparting knowledge but also about nurturing respect, dignity, and equality.
Universities must become safe havens where all students, regardless of gender or appearance, are treated with fairness and empathy. Only then can they truly fulfill their mission to empower young people to reach their potential, free from fear and harassment. 🌿🎓✨