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BUK’s Dress Code By Mukhtar Bello April 25, 2008 April 23, the Nigerian Tribune1 published an article titled “The BUK dress code”, written by one Nafata Bamaguje. The same article “BUK’s Sharia Dress Code” was also published on Gamji Website2. The subject of the article was on the recently introduced dress code for students of Bayero University Kano (BUK). I feel the author was too miser with the truth if not very rude. He was sentimental and clearly showed his hatred of Islam. There were no facts to support his arguments; he only intended to insult and instigate people. People of all beliefs agree on the need to decently cover themselves in public. Someone rightly said, “What would you think of a home that provided no shelter and no privacy? It does not take much to realize that if one were in the business of selling it, he would go bankrupt very quickly. Yet, amazingly the rules seem to be different when it comes to another basic need: clothing, especially women's clothing”. University education is supposed to provide students with the general ability to think critically and independently, and the specialist competences of their subject3. Another aim of university education is to promote changes in the values and characters of students. However, it is well known that these days many of our university graduates are academically incompetent and lack the discipline required for positive contribution to national development. University authorities and lecturers are supposed to emphasize the personal development of the whole student, to help students develop as individuals along all dimensions. The goal is not only to teach courses but also to train young minds4. In the graduation ceremony for the award of degrees in our universities, it is normally mentioned that the person has satisfied the academic requirements and is of good characters. I am convinced that no society can prosper without good education and discipline. Instead of Nafata to understand the need for decent dressing as befitting for the students, he vehemently criticized it as an attempt to introduce Sharia mode of dressing in the university. He mentioned: “Among its stipulations, the circular bans "clinging" (body-hugging) clothing including jeans and tee-shirts, which are often body-hugging. Around the world tee-shirt, jeans and close-fitting shirts are almost a uniform among university students, but in BUK such apparel has now been criminalized”. Bayero University Kano is not the first university in the world or even in Nigeria to introduce dress code for students. Some examples may help: Hampton University, southeastern Virginia, USA5: “The dress code is based on the theory that learning to use socially acceptable manners and selecting attire appropriate to specific occasions and activities are critical factors in the total educational process. Understanding and employing these behaviors not only improves the quality of one's life, but also contributes to optimum morale, as well as embellishes the overall campus image. They also play a major role in instilling a sense of integrity and an appreciation for values and ethics”. “Examples of inappropriate dress and/or appearance include but are not limited to: 1. Do-rags, stocking caps, skullcaps and bandanas are prohibited at all times on the campus of Hampton University (except in the privacy of the student's living quarters). 2. Head coverings and hoods for men in any building 3. Baseball caps and hoods for women in any building a. This policy item does not apply to headgear considered as a part of religious or cultural dress. 4. Midriffs or halters, mesh, netted shirts, tube tops or cutoff tee shirts in classrooms, cafeteria, Student Center, and offices; 5. Bare feet; 6. Short shorts; 7. Shorts, all types of jeans at programs dictating professional or formal attire, such as Musical Arts, Fall Convocation, Founder's Day, and Commencement; 8. Clothing with derogatory, offensive and/or lewd messages either in words or pictures; 9. Men's undershirts of any color worn outside of the private living quarters of the residence halls. However, sports jerseys may be worn over a conventional tee-shirt”. “All administrative, faculty and support staff members will be expected to monitor student behavior applicable to this dress code and report any such disregard or violations to the Offices of the Dean of Men, or Dean of Women for the attention of the Dean of Students”. Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Houston, Texas, USA6: “Students should wear garments, shoes, jewelry, accessories and hairstyles that · are appropriate and modest in length and coverage · reflect a positive image of the school and contribute to a distraction-free learning environment and · lead teachers and/or staff to reasonably believe that the issue does not interfere with, disturb, or distract from the classroom and/or learning environment. Students are not to wear clothing that is tight, loose, sagging, cut, torn, baggy, revealing, spaghetti-strap, backless, low cut or short”. Nafata feels that stipulating a dress code is a breach of students’ freedom and an attempt to impose Islamic laws: “Not only is this an unwarranted infringement of personal liberty and intrusion of privacy, there is also the real risk that the dress code enforcement will be religiously divisive, and raise religious tension on campus, as it will almost invariably be Muslims reporting non-Muslims”. However, it is interesting to note that even a Christian University called Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, USA, agrees that freedom has limit7.
Standard of Dress Nafata may still argue that these are foreign universities even though he mentioned ‘universities around the world’. To satisfy him and those who might blindly accept his claims, some Nigerian Universities have introduced dress code for their students long before BUK. “The authorities of the University of Ibadan have approved a new dressing code for its male and female students. This was made public by the registrar of the university while administering matriculation oath on the fresh intakes of the Distance Learning Centre recently at the Trenchard Hall of the institution. Under this new arrangement, female students have been banned from wearing perforated transparent clothes, low-necked blouses that expose the breasts, armpit, navel and tight fitting trousers that expose the structure of the buttocks. They were also banned from wearing skirts that do not reach the knee level. The male students were not left out of the new arrangement. They were banned from plaiting their hair, wearing ear-rings and worn-out jeans. Each of the students was bound by an oath to strictly adhere to these codes and also to renounce membership of any unregistered association like cultism” 8. Someone making comments rightly observed8: “Any well meaning Nigerian would be glad on hearing this news because indecent dressing especially among female students appears to have been legalized on our campuses. It seems to have become a national phenomenon, which is being tolerated by the state itself. Our campuses have become semi-hotels where decency and privacy is a thing too far to fetch. Half of the students (female) do not wear brassiere and those who wear it only do so to cover their breasts half-way. It is on campus that one sees a male student plaiting the hair and putting on earrings. One may be tempted to ask on seeing all these whether these students actually constitute the youth that would lead the nation tomorrow and if they are, how competent and responsible will they be and what type of future are they building?” Can Nafata help with an answer? Let us move on before he thinks of a right answer, if any. The Delta State Ministry of Higher Education has given instructions to students in higher institutions in the state, to dress decently9. “A dress code for students was put in place to forestall indecent dressing, which has already put some sanity into students dressing pattern. Again, a measure to deal with staff and students indiscipline has been put in place. Staff that are found guilty of examination malpractice and sexual harassment will be disciplined appropriately”. To buttress the point better, Mr. John Ekpang, University of Calabar’s Information Officer while announcing the dress code for students of the university said: "Indecent dressing by university students was becoming too rampant and unacceptable. They distract lecturers, tempt fellow students and also make everyone very uncomfortable. We cannot continue to allow that in this school". Infact, it is difficult to resist the temptation of alleging that those half-naked ladies on our university campuses are prostitutes. Some facts may support the claim. At a seminar, titled: “Female Students and Aristos", for students at the University of Lagos organized by Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) Lagos branch, Chief (Mrs.) Kofo Odeyemi, had this to say10: “In the University of Port Harcourt, girls go to native doctors for charms to get White men, oil workers with opportunity to travel overseas. So appalling and disheartening to see what our girls turn themselves into.” Again, still fresh in our memory, on the death of Edo State Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mr. Calus Enoma, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Okiro stated that11: “Police investigation showed that Enoma checked into the hotel with a female friend, who is a student of the University of Benin (names withheld) and without any luggage”. Mr. Okiro quoted the female student testifying that: “While we were together, the late commissioner started gasping for breath and I tried to resuscitate him by pouring cold water on him, but he did not get better”. I wish that Nafata was around to help her out! Here is a motherly advice by Dr. (Mrs.) Caroline Umebese, for those who may care to listen10: “The way you dress is the way you will be addressed. Dress respectfully and respect will come to you. Don’t look for flamboyancy. Dress decently and decent people will come to you”. I cannot agree more. Borrowing from a saying, “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing”, I urge the good people of Bayero University Kano, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and Federal Ministry of Education not to allow calumny on the issue of dress code for university students to distract their attention from making the university environment more respectful and conducive for teaching and learning. Finally, regarding the identity of that author, I do not know whether the person’s real name is Nafata Bamaguje or it is a pen name. Either of the two, I know for sure that people who intend to do well, identify themselves with successful people. The name Nafata that is familiar to me is for one of the Kings that ruled Gobir Empire cir ca 1801-1803, during the struggle (for positive change) of Sheikh Uthman DanFodio and his supporters. The Sheikh tried his best to educate his people especially the leaders, of the need to uphold justice and practice their religion correctly. He got the understanding of King Bawa Jan Gwarzo to some extent, and they made some agreements. When Nafata became the King, he reversed the agreements reached between the two. He tried his best to suppress and stop the reform movement but did not succeed. His successor, Yunfa was also very hostile to the Sheikh and his supporters; of course, they had to defend themselves. At the final encounter, in 1808, the top commanders of the reform movement, Aliyu Jedo, Muhammad Bello and Umaru Dallaji engaged Yunfa and his forces at Alkalawa and the empire was obliterated. May God protect us from the evils of Maguzawa. References 1. Nafata Bamaguje, “BUK dress code” Nigerian Tribune, (Letters), April 23, 2008 2. Nafata Bamaguje, “BUK’s Sharia Dress Code” http://www.gamji.com, April 24, 2008 3. Mukhtar Bello, “The State of the Nigerian Public Universities” http://www.gamji.com, November 28, 2007 4. Joseph, A. “From counterculture to counterrevolution: A teaching career, in E. E. Kenneth (Ed) New Directions for Teaching and Learning “San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Inc. 1980.
5. http://www.hamptonu.edu/about/dresscode.cfm 6. http://www.cfisd.net/aboutour/dresscode.htm 8. Okeme, S. Jacob, “New Dressing Code for UI Students” Nigerian Tribune (Letters), July 17, 2007. 9. Honorable Commissioner, Ministry of Higher Education, Asaba, Delta State, Press Briefing
10. Emmanual Edukugho, “HIV/AIDS spread: Varsity women grow goose pimples” Vanguard, April 10, 2008.
11. News, “Edo Commissioner died of Cardiac Problems, says IG” Guardian, April 18, 2008.
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