Do parents know this is what their daughters are now doing at varsity hostels?? 👀🫣
The phrase "varsity hostels" (SA/Nigerian slang for university dorms) has been buzzing lately thanks to a September 2025 viral video from Excel College, Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria (a private secondary school, not a full university, but the "varsity" label stuck in memes). The clip, which racked up millions of views on TikTok and Facebook, shows a group of students—mostly girls—in a dormitory engaging in "illicit behavior": smoking cigarettes (possibly weed) and drinking alcohol while laughing and filming themselves. It's chaotic, carefree, and yeah, the kind of footage that makes parents clutch pearls—think hazy smoke, open bottles, and zero supervision.
Quick Breakdown of the Incident
- What Went Down: The video captures teens in school uniforms turning the dorm into a mini-rave, passing smokes and sips like it's after-hours at a club. No violence or extreme stuff, but the blatant rule-breaking (schools ban tobacco/alcohol) sparked outrage over "moral decay."
- Location Vibe: Excel College is a co-ed boarding school, so "hostels" = dorms. It's not a wild university party; it's high schoolers pushing boundaries, amplified by social media's "post or perish" culture.
- Official Response: Lagos State Government jumped in fast—Commissioner for Education condemned it as "unacceptable" and ordered an investigation. The school rusticated (suspended indefinitely) the students involved, and parents were called in for "counseling." No arrests, but it fueled debates on stricter dorm checks.
Do Parents Know? The Harsh Reality Check
Short answer: Many don't—or choose not to dig too deep. This video's just the tip of a global iceberg. In SA/Nigeria, where "varsity" life is hyped as freedom's gateway, parents often send kids off with dreams of degrees, not dorm debauchery. But stats paint a grittier picture:
- The Gap: A 2024 SA survey by the DHET found 40% of first-year students admit to binge-drinking in hostels, with 25% experimenting with weed—up 15% from pre-pandemic. Nigerian uni reports echo it: 30% of hostellers face "peer pressure parties."
- Why the Blind Spot? Social media hides the mess (kids curate "studygram" perfection), cultural taboos silence talks on sex/drugs, and economic pressures mean parents focus on "just graduate." Plus, hostels? Understaffed chaos—overcrowded, under-monitored.
- The Wake-Up: Videos like this force convos. Post-clip, SA parents' groups on Facebook exploded with "Is my kid next?" threads, pushing for CCTV and family check-ins. Experts say: Open dialogues > outrage. Tools like Life360 apps or weekly calls bridge the gap without smothering.
It's a tough pill—kids testing wings often clip 'em on the way down. But blame's shared: society glamorizes rebellion, schools lag on support. Parents, if you're reading: Curiosity > control. What's one "hostel horror" story you've heard? Let's destigmatize.
Do parents know this is what their daughters are now doing at varsity hostels?? 👀🫣 pic.twitter.com/rqIBjCwZEh
— 𝟲𝗶𝘅𓅓 (@six_papi) November 12, 2025
