Afrobeats singer Folarin Odunlami professionally known as Fola has finally explained why he defended his UNILAG final-year project in casual clothes.
Speaking on the I Said What I Said podcast, he said the viral photo was not a fashion statement:
“That viral picture of me defending my project in mufti was taken right after I landed from Canada. I drove straight to school from the airport because I wanted to do the defense myself.”
He said he didn’t go home to change or rest after his international trip, and was determined to complete the academic requirement without delay.
To prove he had just arrived, he said:
“I showed my lecturer my flight ticket, and he allowed me to do the defense”.
Fola, a student in the department of Economics Education, Faculty of Education, UNILAG, defended his project on July 29, 2026.
He arrived on campus in a Cadillac Escalade wearing baggy trousers, a graphic T-shirt, a scarf, sunglasses and chains – while his classmates were in formal corporate wear (shirts, ties, suits) holding their blue project files.
The image sparked backlash online, with many accusing UNILAG of giving him preferential treatment because of his celebrity status, and comparing him to ordinary students who had been turned away for dress code violations.
Fola’s explanation – that he came straight from the airport in Canada – has since drawn mixed reactions, with some praising his commitment and others calling it damage control.
