The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has issued an important public notice addressing the growing trend of unauthorized film, video, and skit productions within the university premises. The statement, released through the Communication Unit on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, emphasized that the university’s facilities including classrooms, hostels, open spaces, and other locations must not be used for cinematographic activities without formal approval.
According to the notice, the management expressed concern over the rising number of individuals and groups, including students and external collaborators, who engage in recording various forms of video content such as skits, vox pops, and short films without following due process. The university stated that while it appreciates the role of creativity in student life and media development, it must also safeguard its image, integrity, and academic environment from misuse.
The statement explained that UNILAG has well-defined procedures guiding the use of its premises for any form of recording or content creation. These procedures were developed to maintain the decorum, safety, and orderliness of the university community, ensuring that all productions within its space reflect the institution’s values and standards.
Management reiterated that the University of Lagos remains committed to encouraging artistic and intellectual expression. However, such expressions must always align with the university’s mission, ethical code, and regulatory framework. Any deviation from the approved process, it warned, constitutes a breach of institutional regulations and will attract appropriate disciplinary actions where necessary.
As part of the directive, the university announced that all individuals or organizations intending to carry out cinematographic, video, or media activities within the campus must first obtain official approval from the Communication Unit. The notice clarified that requests for permission should be submitted in writing to the Communication Unit, 7th Floor, Senate House, University of Lagos, Akoka.
The institution’s management further stressed that the approval process is not meant to stifle creativity but to ensure that all recordings conducted within the university uphold the safety of participants and the reputation of UNILAG. It underscored that public institutions like the University of Lagos must maintain control over how their image is represented to external audiences, especially in an era of viral media content.
In reaffirming its stance, the university highlighted that the misuse of its environment for unauthorized videos and films poses security challenges, disrupts academic activities, and may distort the image of the institution when content is misrepresented. Thus, adherence to official guidelines is seen as both a security measure and a matter of institutional pride.
The notice also called on students, staff, and external content creators to exhibit a sense of responsibility, respect, and professionalism whenever they engage in creative projects within or around the university’s premises. It urged all members of the UNILAG community to be ambassadors of the institution’s brand identity by complying with its policies and procedures.
Furthermore, the university’s management noted that the regulation covers all forms of digital and cinematographic content — including documentaries, social media skits, advertisements, promotional clips, and vox populi recordings — regardless of the medium or scale of production. This inclusiveness ensures that both small-scale and large-scale projects are subjected to the same ethical and procedural standards.
In her official statement, Mrs. Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, Head of the Communication Unit, who signed on behalf of the university management, emphasized that the directive was issued in the spirit of maintaining institutional discipline and upholding the university’s long-standing reputation as one of Nigeria’s most respected academic environments. She thanked members of the community for their understanding and cooperation.
She added that UNILAG’s support for creative pursuits remains unwavering, provided such activities are carried out responsibly and with official authorization. By balancing freedom of expression with institutional order, the university hopes to continue providing an enabling environment where creativity and academic excellence can coexist harmoniously.
The management concluded by urging all stakeholders to comply strictly with the directive in the interest of order, safety, and collective responsibility. It reaffirmed that the University of Lagos remains a center of learning and innovation where creativity thrives within the bounds of respect, decorum, and adherence to due process.
