Ramadan: Polytechnic Ban Female, Male Students From Standing Together

The management of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi has introduced a controversial Ramadan directive barring male and female students from standing together as couples on campus, warning that violators risk being subjected to an immediate Islamic marriage ceremony.

The instruction, conveyed in an official circular dated February 25, 2026, was endorsed by the institution’s Registrar and Secretary to Council, Alhaji Kamisu Salihu. 

According to the document, the measure is aimed at preserving what the school described as moral discipline during the holy fasting period.

Authorities stated that male and female students must refrain from “standing together in couple (boy & girl)” throughout Ramadan. 

The memo further cautioned students against “unnecessary closeness,” urging them to respect the sanctity of the academic environment.

More strikingly, the directive indicated that any students found flouting the rule would be compelled to undergo a Nikkah, an Islamic marriage rite, without delay. 

In addition, affected students would bear full responsibility for organising their own Walima, the traditional wedding reception that follows the marriage contract.

Although the management did not elaborate on enforcement mechanisms, the tone of the circular suggested zero tolerance. 

“This is about maintaining decorum and upholding institutional values during a sacred period,” a senior administrative source said, defending the policy.

However, reaction has been swift and divided.

Across social media platforms, critics argued that the order oversteps institutional boundaries and blurs the line between religious observance and constitutional freedoms. 

Some commentators questioned whether a federally funded polytechnic could impose what they described as religiously grounded sanctions within a secular academic framework.

Conversely, a handful of supporters maintained that educational institutions have the authority to enforce codes of conduct reflective of community standards, particularly during significant religious observances such as Ramadan.

As debate intensifies, the development has placed the polytechnic at the centre of a broader national conversation about student rights, religious sensitivity, and the limits of administrative power within Nigeria’s higher education system.