Latest news with #HarunaAyagi
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘No bra, no exam': Nigerian university sparks outrage over bra checks before exams
A Nigerian university has come under fire after a video showing female students being physically checked for bras before an examination went viral, triggering widespread condemnation and raising serious concerns about students' rights. The BBC, which reported on the incident, confirmed the footage was taken at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in south-western Ogun State. (Also read: Man wears a bra to film 'viral reel' in Haryana market, shopkeeper thrashes him in front of crowd) The video, widely circulated on social media, shows female staff members touching the chests of young women standing in line to enter an examination hall. The alleged purpose was to determine whether they were wearing bras—a requirement linked to the university's dress code policies. The university has not issued an official statement regarding the footage. However, a student leader defended the practice, saying it was part of maintaining a 'distraction-free environment'. Despite the justification, he admitted that better methods should be employed to enforce the policy and acknowledged the criticisms labelling the practice as sexist and demeaning. Haruna Ayagi, a senior official at the Human Rights Network, told the BBC that the policy could face legal repercussions. '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,' he said. In response to the backlash, Muizz Olatunji, president of the university's students' union, posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating the institution's intent behind the dress code. 'The university promotes a dress-code policy aimed at maintaining a respectful and distraction-free environment,' he wrote, stressing that students were encouraged to dress modestly in line with institutional values. He added that the policy was longstanding and that the union was working with university authorities to 'explore alternative approaches to addressing indecent dressing, focusing on respectful and dignified interactions between students and staff.' Olatunji also shared the official dress code, which bans clothing 'capable of making the same or opposite sex to lust after the student in an indecent manner.' Founded in 1982 as Ogun State University and renamed in 2001 after former state governor Olabisi Onabanjo, the institution is now at the centre of a growing controversy over students' rights, privacy, and gender-based policies.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'No-bra, no-exam' rule at Nigerian university sparks outrage
A university in Nigeria has sparked outrage after a video went viral showing female students being touched to see if they were wearing bras before taking part in an exam. In the footage, female staff at Olabisi Onabanjo University in south-western Ogun State are seen touching some students' chests as they queue to enter an examination hall. The university has not yet commented on the video, but a student leader defended the bra policy as being part of the institution's dress code aimed at maintaining "a distraction-free environment". However, he acknowledged that other ways were needed to enforce the policy that has been condemned by critics as archaic, sexist and likened to sexual assault. A senior official at campaign group Human Rights Network told the BBC that students could sue the university for violating their rights. "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," Haruna Ayagi said. A student who did not want to be named told the BBC that the university enforced a strict moral code despite not being a religious institution. She said their clothes were always being checked. In response to the outcry, the president of the university's students' union, Muizz Olatunji, said on X that the university promoted "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 added that the policy was not new, and the union had "engaged with the institution to explore alternative approaches to addressing indecent dressing, focusing on respectful and dignified interactions between students and staff". He also published the dress code, which included a ban on any clothes "capable of making the same or opposite sex to lust after the student in an indecent manner". The university was founded in 1982 as Ogun State University when Olabisi Onabanjo was state governor. It was renamed after him in 2001. What is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria? Disbelief as Nigeria urges prayer to end food shortages Culture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Nigerian university's 'no-bra, no-exam' rule sparks outrage
A university in Nigeria has sparked outrage after a video went viral showing female students being touched to see if they were wearing bras before taking part in an the footage, female staff at Olabisi Onabanjo University in south-western Ogun State are seen touching some students' chests as they queue to enter an examination university has not yet commented on the video, but a student leader defended the bra policy as an attempt to ensure students dressed "modestly" and to maintain "a distraction-free environment".However, he acknowledged that other ways were needed to enforce the policy that has been condemned by critics as archaic, sexist and likened to sexual assault. A senior official at campaign group Human Rights Network told the BBC that students could sue the university for violating their rights."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," Haruna Ayagi said.A student who did not want to be named told the BBC that the university enforced a strict moral code despite not being a religious said their clothes were always being response to the outcry, the president of the university's students' union, Muizz Olatunji, said on X that the university promoted "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 added that the policy was not new, and the union had "engaged with the institution to explore alternative approaches to addressing indecent dressing, focusing on respectful and dignified interactions between students and staff".He also published the dress code, which included a ban on any clothes "capable of making the same or opposite sex to lust after the student in an indecent manner".The university was founded in 1982 as Ogun State University when Olabisi Onabanjo was state governor. It was renamed after him in 2001. More BBC stories on Nigeria: What is behind the wave of killings in central Nigeria?Disbelief as Nigeria urges prayer to end food shortagesCulture and colour come out in praise of a Nigerian king Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
