Kaduna Polytechnic dress code protest sparks investigation as management blames overzealous enforcement committee for barring students from lectures

The management of Kaduna Polytechnic has launched an investigation following a protest by students who were barred from entering the institution over alleged violations of its dress code policy.

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The institution attributed the incident to what it described as the overzealous conduct of members of its dress code enforcement committee, noting that some officials may have exceeded their authority.

The management disclosed that it had begun probing the conduct of officials who prevented several students from attending lectures at the institution’s College of Business and Management Studies.

The development followed the circulation of viral video clips showing a female student expressing frustration after she and others were stopped from entering the campus despite what they described as modest dressing.

In the video, the student said she had been cleared by security personnel but was later stopped by a member of the dress code enforcement committee.

“I am fully covered; my trousers reach the ground. There is nothing wrong with what I’m wearing. Security already cleared me to enter the school, only for one man in particular to call me back,” she said.

She added that several students had spent money on transportation to attend lectures but were turned away over what she described as minor issues.

“People wasted transport to come to school and you are sending them back for very useless things,” the student said.

She further alleged that some students were denied entry because the sleeves of their clothing were considered too short despite being otherwise properly dressed.

Reacting to the incident, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol of Kaduna Polytechnic, Godwin Ayegba, said the controversy stemmed from the actions of certain committee members who enforced the dress code beyond approved guidelines.

“We are addressing the issues. I think it is an individual staff member who is overdoing these things. There is a particular member of the dress code committee who is overzealous,” Ayegba said.

He noted that the management had already taken steps to review the situation and ensure that enforcement of the institution’s dress code aligns with official procedures.

Earlier, the polytechnic clarified that the affected students should not have been prevented from attending lectures solely on the basis of their dressing.

According to the management, the institution maintains a dress code policy aimed at promoting decency, professionalism and a conducive learning environment, but enforcement must not be carried out arbitrarily.

Meanwhile, the President of the institution’s Students’ Union Government, Ibrahim Mai Jama’a, warned members of the dress code enforcement committee against harassing or victimising students.

He said the union had received several complaints about the conduct of some officials and would engage with the committee to address the concerns.

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“We are very concerned about how members of this committee treat our students, and we want them to begin to treat students with dignity. That is why we are meeting with the committee to address the issue,” Jama’a said.