Kwara Varsity Goes After Male, Female Off-campus Cohabitation

Disturbed by the indulgence of some of its students in anti-social behaviours, especially male and female co- habitations in hostel facilities outside the campus, the management of

Kwara State University( KWASU), Malete, is mulling drastic penalties for unethical behaviours and dress code violations both on and off the institution’s campuses.

LEADERSHIP gathered that some students of the institution who reside within the host communities have been indulging in male/ female co-habitations in the same room or apartment.

It was gathered that the management of the university was not comfortable with such attitude as it negates its vision of producing graduates who will be responsible citizens wherever they may be residing after graduation.

” This is a move to enhance the institutions’ zero tolerance for all acts of indiscipline in and around the university, ” a senior management staff of the institution told LEADERSHIP.

” The offences, which are captured under two categories, list the violations to be either unethical behaviours or dress code offences.

” Unethical behaviours range from consumption and or possession of alcohol and illicit drugs, membership of unregistered associations, sexual assault, cyber crimes, homosexuality, physical and verbal assault, theft, bullying, bringing vehicle to school, and male-female cohabitation.

” Others are bringing babies to the hostel or lecture rooms, extortion, and walking on the lawn, among others, ” the source said.

He added:” Category B which captures dress code violations lists none use of identification card on campus, skimpy and revealing clothes, all forms of indecent and flamboyant dressing, unkempt and dishevelled appearances, piercings, braiding of hair and long nails by male students, and coloured braids and hair extensions that go beyond the neck region for females as violations that attract various levels of sanctions. ”

LEADERSHIP learned that the sanctions for offending students vary depending on the infringement, ranging from the seizure of their identification cards to the payment of a fine, suspension, and expulsion.

When contacted, the acting director of University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu, confirmed the rolling out of measures to curb anti – social behaviours amongst students, both within and outside the campus.

She recalled that the vice chancellor of the university, Prof  Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, had recently addressed the students of the institution on the negative impact of anti- social behaviours by the students on the image of the institution.

“I write to address you all on a matter of importance, that of protecting the name and integrity of Kwara State University. You will all have seen the videos of some students portraying your institution in a bad light. The students were wearing Kwara State University’s matriculation gowns and depicting themselves as unworthy to be students of an institution of higher learning.

“This is not just a disservice to all the hard work your lecturers have put in to groom you to be worthy individuals who will command respect anywhere in the world. It is a ridicule of the image and integrity of the processes of the institution, which are founded on principles of excellence,” Aliyu quoted the vice chancellor to have said in his address to the students of the institution.

Two lawyers who spoke with LEADERSHIP on the legality of female and male students co-habiting expressed divergent views.

Barrister Teju Oguntoye said,” Under the law, female and male students can co-habit. But, morally speaking, it’s not advisable.”

Another lawyer, Abiodun Fagbemi, said, ”  There are some rights that are not absolute; they are culturally dependent. In Nigeria’s setting, one of the planks of legal marriage is cohabitation. Where individuals are not legally married but cohabit, it’s an infringement on the law of marriage. And in most of our culture, such is frowned at.