Three Higher National Diploma (HND) II students of the Department of Mass Communication at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, have raised serious concerns over what they described as undue harassment and abuse by a female lecturer who allegedly seized their clearance forms and mobile phones due to what she termed “indecent dressing.”
The incident, which occurred earlier this week near the Students’ Union Government (SUG) building on the main campus, has sparked outrage among the affected students. The lecturer, reportedly from the Department of Gender Studies, confronted the students for allegedly violating the institution’s dress code policy and took drastic actions without formal procedure.
Speaking anonymously to The Nigeria Education News, the students expressed their frustration and emotional distress over the treatment they received. According to them, the lecturer approached them unexpectedly and demanded that they immediately return home to change their clothes. When the students hesitated, believing she might be addressing someone else, the lecturer allegedly blocked their path, forcibly took their phones and exam clearance forms, and walked away
One of the students said, “We didn’t even know she was talking to us at first. She just came and started shouting that what we were wearing was unacceptable. Before we could react, she collected our phones and clearance forms and told us we would not get them back for a week.”
The students complied with her initial instruction and returned home to change into what they believed were more appropriate outfits. However, upon their return and repeated pleas, the lecturer reportedly refused to release their seized items, stating that they must serve a seven-day penalty to understand the consequences of improper dressing.
Another affected student recounted her ordeal, saying, “We begged her and even apologized, but she said we were being used as examples to others. This is our final clearance week; we need that form for exams and departmental procedures.”
While the school has policies on dress code enforcement, the affected students argue that such punishments should be properly communicated through appropriate disciplinary channels and not through arbitrary action by individual lecturers.
When contacted, some other students on campus shared similar sentiments. “We understand the need for decency on campus, but this kind of treatment is excessive. There should be procedures, not harassment,” said a male student who witnessed the scene.
Efforts to speak directly with the lecturer involved proved unsuccessful as she declined to comment when approached by our reporters. Meanwhile, the students have called on the school management to investigate the matter and create a more balanced approach to enforcing student discipline.
“We are not saying the school should allow indecent dressing, but the method of enforcement matters. This is about our dignity and our future,” one of the students concluded.
The Nigeria Education News reached out to the Kwara State Polytechnic public relations office for a statement. As of press time, no official response has been issued.
This incident has once again raised questions about how institutions of higher learning enforce discipline and student codes of conduct, especially regarding the limits of authority individual lecturers can exercise without institutional backing.
