Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) is trending for all the wrong reasons. This time, exam leaks or campus protests aren’t the cause. No, OOU has chosen to play Bra Police. The gist? Officials reportedly stopped female students from writing their exams because, wait for it, they weren’t wearing bras. Read the news here
Some students say they were forced to prove they had bras on before entering the hall. Videos of the incident have gone viral and Nigerians, as usual, are not smiling. The hashtag #NoBraNoExam has taken over social media, with people wondering whether we’re running schools or fashion shows.
The Wahala That Started It All
From what we gather, some officials at OOU took it upon themselves to enforce this highly intellectual dress code. According to them, no bra means no exam. Next, maybe they’ll start checking boxers too, or is it only women they see?
Students have shared their shock and frustration online. One X user said: “So after all my all-night reading, na bra go stop me? God abeg!” Another said: “If only they inspected lecturers’ lesson notes the way they inspect our bras.”
What’s even more baffling is the timing. With students already stressed over exams, the last thing they need is to worry about bra patrol at the hall entrance. Some even joked online that OOU should add Bra Verification as a carryover course since the school seems so passionate about it.
Respect or Oppression? Nigerians React
Now let’s be serious small. People are rightly asking: what does a bra have to do with academic performance? Is it now part of the syllabus? Critics argue that this isn’t about discipline. It’s about policing women’s bodies in the name of decency.
A women’s rights advocate put it bluntly: “If you’re so concerned about what’s under students’ clothes, maybe you should be concerned about what’s underfunded, like the labs, libraries, and lecture halls.” Many online agreed, saying this is just another way society finds to distract from real issues affecting young Nigerians. View the issues here
Parents and alumni have also weighed in. One parent wrote on Facebook: “I sent my daughter to OOU to study, not to be body-shamed by staff who should focus on real academic values.”
OOU’s Side of the Story
So far, OOU’s top management has not come out with a detailed official statement. Some insiders claim the rule was aimed at upholding proper dressing during exams. But Nigerians aren’t buying it. Most see it as a clear case of misplaced priority, like when NEPA brings bill before bringing light.
Besides, if the school wants to enforce dressing, there are better ways than turning exam halls into what people are now calling the Bra Checkpoint.
The Bigger Question: Why This Focus?
Let’s be honest, this isn’t the first time a Nigerian school has focused on things that don’t actually improve education. Across campuses, female students often complain of being targeted for dress code violations while bigger issues go unattended. View the stats here
While we debate bras, the real problems persist: overcrowded lecture halls, outdated curricula, poor infrastructure, unpaid staff. But no, in the minds of some, it’s the invisible bra that’s holding the country back. Incredible.
What Needs to Change
What Nigerian universities really need is a mindset shift. Schools should focus on creating safe, supportive learning environments, not spaces where students feel policed and shamed at the door.
We can promote decent dressing through positive engagement, workshops, and clear, respectful policies. Turning exam halls into scenes from a comedy skit is not it.
And let’s be honest, if we monitored budgets, projects, and standards with half the energy that goes into monitoring women’s clothing, Nigeria would probably be leading Africa in education, not trending for the wrong reasons.
There Is Still Hope
The loud outcry shows that students, activists, and Nigerians at large are ready to call out injustice, no matter how small or absurd. The conversations sparked by this incident could push schools to reflect on their policies and shift focus to what truly matters: quality education.
It’s time to create campuses where respect and learning go hand in hand, not places where students fear embarrassment over what they wear beneath their clothes.
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