THE BANE OF INDECENT DRESSING

Indecent dressing remains a major Trojan horse which infiltrates the moral uprightness of people in the society, especially the women folks. The dawn of 21st century has witnessed several technological advancements which cut across every foray of human endeavour.

One of the notable values of Africa is its rich cultural background, and as such, there is no time in our history that indecent dressing can be linked to our heritage. The depth of this ungodly and morally-repugnant attitude is sunk deeply in tertiary institutions. Youngsters often think that indecent dressing is a style for this era. Due to the wrong perception many students are reading to westernization; they have gone haywire all in the name of feeling among.

Indecent dressing as obtained has no link to religion, because modesty is preached in various divine statutes. Over exposure to foreign culture through various route of modern day channels such as internet, videos, and music among other medium, contribute majorly to the cankerworm. However, there also exist some external factors ranging from poor parenting, peer group pressure and other societal complexes capable of undermining morality. It is as well noteworthy that the kind of messages passes by those we tagged role models, are nothing to write home about. This greatly reflects in the home videos and movies that dominate the Nollywood scenes in Nigeria. Of what benefit does that serve to those watching the movies, especially the teenage ones?

For instance at University of Ilorin; the university management really condemn such an act of immorality. As indicated in the school motto; the university only award degrees to only those that are worthy in learning and character. Thus, discipline and modesty serve as the University watchwords. As it is generally presume that forewarned is forearmed, the university authority,during the yuletide break, endeavoured to send message to each and every student of the university, specifically to disseminate information to students as to the form of dress codes allowed while on campus. In a Similar gesture, this was extended as part of the themes for orientation of fresh students of the university. Upholding these values, several pamphlets were distributed to them at the venue of the orientation programme.

The university strongly believes that proper dressing is an act which is necessary to excel in one's field, and needed in life after graduation. There is fine in form of warnings to ignorant first-time offenders and more stringent disciplinary actions await those that occasionallyviolate the dressing ethics.

The way you dress determines the way you are addressed. Dressing decently enables one to gain respect from lecturers, fellow studentsand even in the entire academic community. It is also a proactive measure that reduces prevalent societal problems such as rape and other forms of sexual assault.

This development, despite the advantages, does not go down well with some students. "Dress code is just a way to restrict the freedom of students". This was the belief of a student who claimed anonymity. However, for the greater good, there is existence of laws. Aggrieved students have no choice other than to comply with the university rules and regulations.

A University is designed to be an institution offering academic literacy and also should be a platform for moral training. Unilorin is known to train students in character and learning; thus, only students proven to be successful in both aspects are awarded degrees. The university therefore sets record and model to other institutions of learning as to definition of graduates.

Berating the act of indecent dressing, some students see no reason why some students are dressing indecently to displease their creator. They nurture the opinion that indecent dressing also has a negative effect in the academic environment. The reasons, of which, are justified by the level of distractions attributed to immoral dressings which takes its toll on students and unguarded lecturers.

It was highly reasonable to agree with the point that there is always a freedom of movement and accessto every facility on campus by well -dressed students. And it is trite knowledge, in the university, that any student caught dressing indecently will surely bear the consequences that prevail.

By Aminat Afolabi, 400 Level Chemistry, University Of Ilorin