Nigeria: University’s ‘No Bra, No Exam’ Policy Sparks Outrage After Viral Video

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By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

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Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in southwestern Ogun State is facing widespread condemnation after a video went viral, reportedly showing female staff physically checking students for bras before allowing them into an examination hall. The incident has ignited outrage and raised significant concerns about students’ rights and privacy.

The footage, widely circulated on social media, depicts female staff members touching the chests of young women in a queue as they attempted to enter an examination venue. The alleged purpose of these checks was to enforce a “no bra, no exam” policy, which a student leader stated was part of the university’s dress code aimed at maintaining a “distraction-free environment.”

While the university has not yet issued an official statement regarding the viral video, Muizz Olatunji, the president of the university’s students’ union, attempted to justify the practice on social media platform X. He claimed that “No bra. No entry” is not a new policy at OOU and that the institution promotes a dress code to encourage modest dressing in line with its values, advising students to “shun indecent dressing that’s capable of making opposite sex unnecessarily lust after them.” However, Olatunji also conceded that better methods are needed to enforce the policy and acknowledged the criticisms labeling the practice as sexist and demeaning.

Human rights advocates have strongly criticized the university’s alleged actions. Haruna Ayagi, a senior official at the Human Rights Network, told the BBC that “Unwarranted touches on another person’s body is a violation and could lead to legal action. The university is wrong to adopt this method to curb indecent dressing.” Students affected by the policy have reportedly described the experience as a form of sexual assault.

The controversy highlights a broader debate in Nigeria, where many universities impose varying degrees of strict dress codes, often banning items like mini-skirts for women or dreadlocks for men. As the video continues to draw sharp reactions, Olabisi Onabanjo University finds itself at the center of a national discussion on appropriate conduct, privacy, and gender-based policies within academic institutions.