Last Updated for the 2026/2027 Academic Session.
Are you an incoming fresher worried about surviving your first semester? Share this link to your WhatsApp group to help someone avoid portal lock-outs or a bad GPA! {alertInfo}
Getting your admission letter is the easy part. The real test is surviving your first semester on campus without getting sent back to your hostel for wearing the wrong clothes, going broke in three weeks, or realizing you don't have the GPA you need because you were too busy trying to figure out how things work.
ABUAD operates differently from most federal and state universities in Nigeria. The rules are stricter, the schedule is tighter, and the expectations are higher. If you come in expecting a regular, loose university experience, you are going to be frustrated very quickly.
This guide breaks down the reality of life at Afe Babalola University. From the infamous dress code to the cafeteria system and the 75% attendance rule, here are the things every fresh student needs to know before stepping on campus.
Table of Contents
- 1. The Dress Code (And How to Avoid Trouble)
- 2. The 75% Class Attendance Rule
- 3. Your Daily Routine & The Lock-Out
- 4. Food and Cafeterias (No Cooking)
- 5. Budgeting & Banking on Campus
- 6. Campus Transportation (Get Ready to Trek)
- 7. The "Exeat" System
- 8. Social Life, Clubs & Extracurriculars
- 9. Religion & Faith on Campus
- 10. The Biggest Mistakes Freshers Make
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. The Dress Code (And How to Avoid Porter Trouble)
ABUAD has a strict corporate dress code during college hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays). You cannot just wake up and throw on jeans and a t-shirt to go for lectures. You are expected to look like a professional. For a full breakdown of approved outfits by college, check out our complete ABUAD Dress Code guide.
Every college has a designated color that must be worn with black trousers or a black skirt:
| College | Designated Color |
|---|---|
| College of Law | White on Black (Corporate) |
| College of Medicine & Health Sciences | Red |
| College of Engineering | Green |
| College of Pharmacy | Purple |
| College of Social & Management Sciences | Sky Blue |
| College of Sciences | Light Yellow / Cream |
For female students: The rules are heavily enforced by hostel porters. Crop tops, short shorts (bum shorts), tank tops, off-shoulder tops, low necklines, and skirts above the knee are prohibited and will get you sent back to change. Colored hair (anything other than black or brown), obvious lip liners, multiple piercings, and excessive jewelry will also get you flagged at the hostel gate before you even make it to class.
For male students: You must have a well-trimmed haircut, remain clean-shaven at all times, and wear your matching college tie. Corporate covered shoes are mandatory during school hours.
Jeans are generally allowed after school hours and on weekends, provided they are clean and not distressed (no "crazy jeans"). But during the school day, do not try to bypass the corporate rule. The porters have the final say, and arguing with them will only make you late for class. {alertWarning}
2. The 75% Class Attendance Rule
In some universities, you can skip lectures and just show up for the exams. If you try that at ABUAD, you will fail the course without even writing the paper.
The university strictly enforces a 75% class attendance rule. If your attendance for a particular course falls below 75%, you will automatically be disqualified from sitting for the final examination for that course. Lecturers take attendance seriously, and it is monitored.
If you are sick or have a genuine emergency, you must get official documentation (like an excuse duty from the campus clinic). Informal excuses to your course rep will not save your attendance record.
3. Your Daily Routine and the 12:30 PM Lock-Out
Your typical day will start early. The morning rush for water and getting dressed means most students are up between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Classes typically start by 8:00 or 8:30 a.m. and run until 5:00 p.m., with a break between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. If you are in Medicine or Engineering, expect some practicals to stretch into the evening.
One major rule that catches freshers off guard is the hostel lock-out: You are generally not allowed back into your hostel before 12:30 p.m. during school days. Once you leave your room in the morning, you stay in the academic area until the afternoon break. You cannot just go back to your bed because you have a free period at 10:00 a.m. (except during exam or revision weeks).
There is also a strict 10:00 p.m. curfew across all hostels. You must be inside your hall by this time. While there is no mandated "lights out" time, the curfew itself is non-negotiable. Being caught roaming the campus late at night can lead to serious disciplinary action at the campus disciplinary centre (often referred to by students as the "monastery").
4. Food and Cafeterias: Cooking is Prohibited
A common misconception among parents is that the expensive school fees cover a student's daily feeding. They do not.
Food at ABUAD is paid for separately out of pocket each time you eat. But before you plan to bring a hot plate from home to save money, you need to know this: Cooking in ABUAD hostels is strictly prohibited. Gas cookers, hot plates, and electrical cooking appliances are contraband items. If they are found in your room, they will be confiscated, and you will face disciplinary action. (Make sure you review our Comprehensive Packing List to see what else is banned!)
You will rely entirely on the campus cafeterias and food vendors (such as Caf 1, Caf 2, Smoothie Shack, Captain Cook, etc.).
While paying out of pocket can feel expensive, many students actually prefer this system over a prepaid meal plan. If feeding were bundled into the school fees, you would have no control over portion sizes or food quality. Paying per meal means you decide what you eat, how much you eat, and where you spend your money.
5. Budgeting & Banking on Campus
Since you cannot cook and must buy all your meals, how much should your parents send you each month?
Based on honest feedback from current students, you need an absolute minimum of ₦150,000 per month to survive. However, to live comfortably without constantly checking your bank balance, a budget of ₦200,000 to ₦250,000 per month (roughly ₦40,000 to ₦60,000 per week) is much more realistic.
Here is why it adds up so fast:
- Food: Three meals a day plus snacks from the cafeteria will easily take up 60-70% of your budget.
- Academics: Printing assignments, buying manuals, and photocopying handouts happen constantly.
- Laundry & Upkeep: Paying for laundry services, buying toiletries from the campus mart, and getting haircuts/hairdos.
- Socials: Occasional college dinners, departmental dues, or weekend hangouts.
Things are generally more expensive on campus than outside. If you do not budget carefully, you will blow your entire monthly allowance in the first two weeks.
Banking: The Two Physical Banks on Campus
Here is something no one tells freshers until they get stranded: while all Nigerian bank services work in ABUAD (transfers, USSD, and mobile apps run fine), there are only two physical bank branches on campus — Fidelity Bank and Wema Bank.
This matters the day you need something a phone app cannot fix: a new debit card, a blocked-account issue, or a large cash withdrawal when the network is down. If your account is with a bank that has no branch on campus, you will have to apply for an exeat and travel into town just to sort it out.
Smart move: Open an account (and get a debit card) with Fidelity or Wema before or shortly after resumption, even if you keep your main account elsewhere. Also carry two different bank cards — campus ATMs and POS machines have network issues, and a backup card saves you from being stranded. {alertSuccess}
6. Campus Transportation: Get Ready to Trek
ABUAD has a massive, sprawling campus, and you will be walking across almost all of it.
While there are campus shuttles/buses, current students report that they are notoriously scarce. They are often described as only being active "based on the driver's mood" or reserved for special events and conferences. The reality is that 90% of your movement around campus will be on foot.
The sun in Ado-Ekiti can be unforgiving. Invest in comfortable corporate shoes for college hours, good sneakers for the weekends, and a sturdy umbrella to protect yourself from both the sun and sudden rain.
In cases of genuine medical emergencies, the university does provide ambulances. But for daily movement to and from classes, expect to trek. {alertInfo}
7. The "Exeat" System: You Cannot Just Walk Out
If you attended a secondary school with boarding facilities, the ABUAD gate system will feel very familiar.
You cannot freely walk out of the university gates to visit town. If you need to leave campus for any reason—whether for a medical appointment, a special family occasion, or traveling home for a break—you must apply for an "exeat" (official permission).
Under the new system, you apply for an exeat directly through your student portal. However, getting it approved is not automatic. Your parents or guardians must give their consent before the school processes your request. The university takes student safety seriously, and they will not let you leave the gates without your parents knowing about it.
Because the process involves portal approval and parental confirmation, it takes time. Do not wait until the morning you want to travel to start applying for your exeat, or you will end up stranded at the gate while your bus leaves without you.
8. Social Life, Clubs & Extracurriculars
Despite the strict rules and demanding academic schedule, ABUAD actually has a vibrant social scene, especially during the second semester.
There are frequent parties, high-profile college dinners, talent shows, and events. While some students wish for more diverse clubs, there are active book clubs, academic societies, and religious groups you can join.
If you want to stay active or represent your college, there is a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities on offer:
- Sports: Athletics (track and field), football, basketball, volleyball, lawn tennis, table tennis, swimming, and the gym.
- Mind games: Chess, Scrabble, and video gaming.
- Performance & clubs: Debate, cheerleading, choir, and dance.
Joining one early is one of the easiest ways to make friends in your first weeks. The only real constraint on your social life is the 10:00 p.m. curfew, which means most events have to start early and wrap up before late night.
9. Religion & Faith on Campus
ABUAD has strong institutional values, so freshers often ask how faith works on campus and whether services are compulsory. Here is the reality.
Is chapel compulsory? No. Chapel and religious services are highly encouraged and are a big part of campus life for many, but they are not compulsory. There are no attendance registers at the door, and there are no negative consequences or disciplinary actions if you choose not to attend. You are free to practice your faith on your own terms.
ABUAD is a secular university. Both Christian and Muslim students are welcome, but there are a few rules worth knowing before you resume:
- No religious dress in class. Religious attire and symbols are not worn during college hours (roughly 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Muslim students are free to wear hijabs and related symbols on Fridays on the way to the mosque, and Christian students may wear their symbols to church.
- Only three recognised religious bodies. The university officially recognises the ABUAD Chapel (interdenominational), the MSSN (ABUAD chapter) for Muslim students, and the ABUAD Catholic Church. Other organised religious gatherings on campus are not permitted.
None of this stops your personal worship — it simply keeps religion out of the classroom and channels group worship through the three recognised bodies. Pack your Bible or Quran; personal devotion is entirely up to you. {alertInfo}
10. The Biggest Mistakes Freshers Make
We asked current students what they wish they knew in their 100-level days. Here are the most common pitfalls to avoid:
Joking with 100-Level Grades
Your first year is the absolute easiest time to build a strong CGPA. Many freshers relax, fail to take continuous assessments seriously, and spend their remaining three or four years trying to fix a damaged GPA. Secure a strong standing early to cushion your grades when the advanced courses get much harder. You can use our ABUAD CGPA Calculator to set your grade targets for the semester.
Letting Notes Pile Up
The 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule is exhausting. The easiest mistake is going back to your hostel, collapsing on your bed, and sleeping instead of reviewing your notes. If you let a week's worth of notes pile up, you will be overwhelmed when tests are announced. Read a little every single day and follow these proven ABUAD study tips. When you are tired, try using our ABUAD Pomodoro Timer to study in short, focused blocks without burning out.
Poor Money Management
Blowing your monthly allowance in the first two weeks on expensive cafeteria meals, junk food, and clothes is a mistake almost every fresher makes once. Learn to budget immediately. Track what you spend on food versus what you spend on wants.
Not Asking Questions (And Missing Deadlines)
Do not suffer in silence. If you do not understand a course registration process, an assignment, or a campus rule, ask your seniors or your course reps. Assuming you know how things work usually leads to expensive or time-consuming mistakes. (Tip: Use our free Assignment Tracker tool to make sure you never miss a submission deadline!)
Isolating Yourself
You need to balance your academics with your social life. Attend events, join a society, and make friends early. By your third and fourth years, the academic workload will be so heavy that you won't have the time to build a social circle from scratch.
"Ask questions" and "don't isolate yourself" are easy to say when you don't know a single person at ABUAD yet. That is exactly why the ABUAD Freshers Hub on WhatsApp exists: a group of incoming and current students where you can ask anything — dress code, exeat, course registration — and get answers from people who did it last year. We also drop free 100-Level past questions in there, so mistake #1 (joking with 100-level grades) gets handled too.
Join the ABUAD Freshers Hub (free — closes when full)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I cook in my ABUAD hostel room?
No, cooking is strictly prohibited in all ABUAD hostels. You cannot bring gas cookers, hot plates, or microwaves. You are expected to purchase all your meals from the various cafeterias and food vendors on campus.
Is it true you can't wear jeans to class?
Yes. ABUAD has a strict corporate dress code. You must wear your college's designated color with black trousers or skirts during school hours. Jeans are only allowed after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends.
What happens if I miss too many classes?
ABUAD enforces a strict 75% class attendance rule. If you fall below this attendance threshold for any course, you will not be allowed to write the final examination for that subject.
How do I get permission to leave the campus?
You must apply for an "exeat" through your student portal. Your parents or guardians must give their consent before the school approves your request. You cannot leave the university gates without an approved exeat.
Which banks are on the ABUAD campus?
All Nigerian bank services (apps, transfers, USSD) work at ABUAD, but there are only two physical bank branches on campus: Fidelity Bank and Wema Bank. It is advisable to open an account and get a debit card with at least one of them, and to carry two different cards in case of network issues.
What to Do Next
Start on mistake #5 today: join the ABUAD Freshers Hub on WhatsApp and walk into campus already knowing people.
Now that you know what to expect from daily life, make sure you have everything you need for your hostel room. If you haven't read our full hostel and accommodation guide yet, that should be your next stop.
Written by the Everything ABUAD Team
Sourced from interviews with current 300L and 400L students across the College of Law, Engineering, and Pharmacy to provide 100% verified campus realities.
Drop a Comment! 👇 Are you worried about a specific rule or just feeling overwhelmed about resuming? Drop your concerns in the comments below and let's talk about it!
