- Nigerians on social media have chided the management of Covenant University, for shaving the hairs of some male students
- A former student referred to the action as ‘disdainful’, while another opined that it is an assault to shave off anyone’s hair without their consent
- An angry Nigerian also highlighted the health implications of the action, even as some other individuals defended the school
Covenant University, Otta, Ogun state, is getting criticized by former students, for shaving the so-called ‘bushy hair’ of some of its male students, Punch reports.
Following the viral video which captured a man using a clipper to shave the middle of some students’ heads, some alumni and other Nigerians, took to social media to call out the school.
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NAIJ.com gathers that the institution was also heavily criticized for allegedly using a single clipper, which was not sterilized, on the heads of all the students. The critics pointed out that this could lead to disease.
According to one alumnus, a certain Okoli Offorbuike, the action undermined the cliché “Kings and Queens” used to describe students at the university. He said it was disdainful.
Offorbuike went further, posting pictures of Bishop David Oyedepo together with Pastor Enoch Adeboye; in which the former, who is the general overseer of the Living Faith Church, was spotted wearing an Afro, as Adeboye also kept hair.
He stated: “After seeing this act carried out in my alma mater, I began to ask myself that maybe calling students kings and queens in Covenant University is just a mere cliché.
“The Bible says faith without work is dead. I will say Covenant University, without respect for the dignity of students, is no different from other universities.
“Where did the student affairs get the idea of shaving students’ hair off? This is one (Adeboye) of the leading fathers of faith in Africa, yet he keeps his hair…he is a king and heavily anointed and everyone agrees to that.
“This is one of Bishop Oyedepo’s full-fledged mentors, T.L. Osborn, on full-fledged Afro. He was still a king and a great preacher. Could we call him unkempt?
“How less bushy is Bishop Oyedepo’s hair in these pictures, and was he less a king? If none could shave off his hair disgracefully, then why should it be done to students in his school? This is injustice.”
The aggrieved ex-student called on the university alumni to facilitate the inclusion of a law in the students’ handbook that would accord the students honour, dignity and respect.
Another alumnus, one Matthias Hungbo, also opined that there was nothing wrong with the students’ hair. According to him, the failure of some students to take their Bibles for a service which held the previous day, was led to the action.
He wrote on his Facebook wall: “It’s appalling that people say keep to the rules and regulations; but in all honesty, there’s no rule as to what height of hair should be kept. It just says keep a low cut and the boys always keep their hair well.
“The management is just passing on its anger as a result of the embarrassment it faced in FT the previous day since some students didn’t bring Bibles. It is sad and even more sad because I feel nothing will be done about it.”
A female ex-student identified as Chimdimma Christiana, said some of its rules and regulations did not justify the vision of the school.
Taking to his Facebook wall, another alumni, one Daniel Uzor, stated that he was disappointed with the school’s action, even though he was a proud graduate of the institution.
He wrote: “I don’t see how keeping of hair affects religious values or academic performance. No one is saying you shouldn’t uphold your values, but please, at least, accord people respect and dignity.”
On Twitter, a certain Mo’Niss, @Modupeee, who also added her voice to the debate stated that it was an assault to shave people’s hair without their consent.
Chidiebere Elendu, a Facebook user, also highlighted the health implications of the action, stating: “What excuse will the school authorities give, should these students contract some transmittable diseases from the barbing exercise?
“Sometimes, I can’t stop wondering if the same Christianity being practised today was the same as the one Christ and the apostles preached.”
However, the school’s action was defended by some others who blamed the students for not complying with the institution’s rules and regulations.
One Yaks, @Yaksnagu, stated: “A person should not be heard complaining about an injury to him dealt by another person, where that person volunteered himself to the risk of harm and knew that the injury dealt was a likely consequence of their dealings.”
Another Twitter user, one Kanye Waste, @iKantWaste, tweeted: “Those are their rules and regulations, and it is not by force to attend the institution.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Covenant University suspended over 200 students for missing its Easter ‘Youth Alive’ programme.
The students were placed on compulsory suspension for not being part of the religious retreat during the Easter celebrations.
One student stated: “We were going for the services in the morning and night and people were getting tired of it because we were also preparing for exams. So, the vice-chancellor got angry and ordered that those who missed the services be sanctioned.”
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Source: Naija.ng