"No Bra, No Entry to Exam Hall"... Nigerian University Sparks Outrage Over 'Chest Inspections' for Students

A video showing female students being checked for bra-wearing at a university in Nigeria has sparked controversy over human rights violations. On June 18 (local time), the BBC and CNN reported that at Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria, a female staff member was checking whether students entering the exam hall were wearing bras, fueling the controversy. In a video posted on social networking services (SNS), a female faculty member can be seen touching a female student's chest area.

A video checking whether female students wear bras has spread at a university in Nigeria, sparking controversy over human rights violations. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

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Students lined up at the entrance to the exam hall and underwent physical inspections. The dress code at Olabisi Onabanjo University prohibits any attire that could cause sexual arousal in others. A female student, who requested anonymity, pointed out, "Dress inspections are frequently conducted at the school," and criticized, "The moral standards are excessively strict."

While the university has not released an official statement regarding the video and the ensuing controversy, the student council posted on SNS that checking for bra-wearing at the school is "not a new policy," and explained that "the university enforces a dress code policy to encourage students to dress neatly and in accordance with the school's values," representing the university's position. The student council further explained that the university defines "inappropriate attire" as "clothing that exposes body parts such as the chest, buttocks, nipples, or navel," as well as "any attire that could inappropriately entice people of the same or opposite sex." Despite these explanations, the controversy has not subsided. The student council later posted another message on SNS, stating that they are "discussing with the university to seek alternatives to address dress code issues, focusing on interactions that emphasize respect and dignity between students and staff."

In a video posted on social networking services (SNS), a female faculty member can be seen touching a female student's chest area. X (Ex)

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In relation to this, a human rights lawyer told CNN that "physically inspecting students to check if they are wearing bras is not only humiliating but also violates their dignity," and stated that it constitutes sexual harassment. The lawyer added, "Some students may have medical reasons for feeling uncomfortable wearing bras," and criticized the policy for being unfairly enforced without consideration for individual circumstances.

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