Student leaders at Kaduna Polytechnic have rejected claims that the enforcement of the institution’s dress code policy is religiously motivated. They insisted the campus remains peaceful and united.
The clarification followed a viral video showing members of the school’s Dress Code Committee preventing some students from entering lecture halls.
However, leaders of major religious student bodies said the incident has been misunderstood.
Student Leaders Respond to Viral Video
Speaking during a joint press conference, Students’ Union Government president Ibrahim Abdullahi Mai-Jama’a said the briefing became necessary after misleading narratives began circulating online.
According to him, the student leadership across religious groups decided to address journalists in order to correct misconceptions about the enforcement of the policy.
The controversy began after a video surfaced on social media. In the footage, officials of the Polytechnic’s Dress Code Committee stopped some students of the College of Business and Management Studies from entering lecture halls.
Meanwhile, the management of Kaduna Polytechnic later clarified that the clothing worn by the affected students appeared moderate and appropriate. Nevertheless, the video triggered debates on social media.
Christian and Muslim Leaders Show Unity
During the briefing, Mai-Jama’a appeared alongside the president of the Fellowship of Christian Students, Joshua Oluwasegun Adetokunbo, and the Ameer of the Muslim Students’ Society, Abubakar Ibrahim.
The joint appearance, they explained, was meant to demonstrate unity among students of different faiths. They also stressed that the Polytechnic community remains peaceful despite the controversy.
Dress Code Applies to All Students
Mai-Jama’a explained that the dress code policy is not new. Instead, he said it is a long-standing institutional regulation.
According to him, the rule was introduced to promote decency, professionalism, and a conducive learning environment for both students and staff. He added that the policy applies to every student without discrimination based on religion.
The SUG president also noted that security personnel enforcing the regulation were simply carrying out their duties to ensure compliance.
Management Investigating Enforcement Concerns
However, Mai-Jama’a acknowledged that misunderstandings may have occurred during the enforcement process. He said there could have been isolated cases of overzealous enforcement by officials implementing the policy.
He further disclosed that the Polytechnic management, under Rector Suleiman Umar, has already begun investigating the reported incidents. According to him, the investigation will ensure fairness in addressing the concerns raised.
Finally, he urged students to follow the dress code guidelines outlined in the institution’s handbook. He also called on the media and the public to avoid narratives portraying the Polytechnic as divided along religious lines.