‘Fashion or moral decay?’ – Lecturer raises concern over student dressing

By Boye Oyeyemi –

Dr. Johnson Ajiwoju, a university lecturer, has linked the growing trend of male students wearing rings and plaiting their hair, and female students dressing in revealing outfits, to moral decline and generational shifts.

In an interview with Western Post, Ajiwoju said the trend reflects poor parenting and the influence of global fashion. According to him, parents have failed to instill discipline in their children from childhood, leading to widespread moral decadence.

“The rise in male students wearing rings and plaiting hair, and female students dressing in revealing outfits, can be attributed to both moral decline and generational shift,” he said. “It is an aftermath of poor parenting, and no doubt, poor upbringing leads to moral decadence.”

On the issue of self-expression, the lecturer stressed that cultural values must take precedence over individual choices in African societies. He argued that moderation in dress and behavior is a cultural expectation that overrides claims to personal freedom.

“As Africans, we are expected to be moderate in dressing and conduct. In this case, self-expression is not absolute but subject to cultural dictates,” Ajiwoju noted.

He maintained that the real challenge lies not in the rules governing student conduct but in their enforcement. “The problem is not the rules or the students, but the failure to enforce discipline,” he said.

Citing Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) as an example, Ajiwoju observed that while the institution has clear regulations, they would remain ineffective without strict enforcement by management.

He concluded that enforcement is the foundation for addressing lawlessness in higher institutions and society at large, stressing that without it, rules become mere formalities.