The Office of the Director of Socials, Students' Union, University of Uyo, has announced the commencement of sales of the official Rag Day 2026 stickers for students intending to participate in this year's celebration.

According to a memorandum dated July 6, 2026, the sticker is compulsory for all participants and will serve as the official means of identification during the event, priced at N1,000 and available for purchase through the Office of the Director of Socials, Faculty Directors of Socials, and Departmental Directors of Socials.

Students have been advised to obtain their stickers only through the designated officials to ensure authenticity and proper coordination, with the Students Union stating that anyone without the official sticker will not be permitted to participate in any Rag Day activities.

The memorandum further encouraged students to purchase their stickers early and cooperate with their respective Faculty Directors of Socials to ensure a successful, orderly and memorable Rag Day 2026 celebration.

Rag Day traces its origins to early 19th century Britain, where students dressed in ragged clothes and solicited donations for charitable causes, a tradition that spread to universities across the United Kingdom, Ireland and parts of Africa, including South Africa, where the University of Pretoria first introduced it in 1925. In Nigerian tertiary institutions, the practice has evolved into a Students Union week tradition, typically involving fresh students dressing in unconventional attire and moving through host communities to raise funds, often blending charity appeals with carnival style celebrations.

The tradition has, however, drawn scrutiny in Nigeria in recent years, with some institutions restricting or banning aspects of the celebration over concerns that it can be difficult to distinguish organised participants from members of the public, raising safety questions for both students and residents. Enforcing a compulsory identification sticker system, as UNIUYO has done for 2026, is one measure institutions have adopted to keep participation traceable and organised.