Alayande Varsity Threatens Disciplinary Action Against Students Working For Neolife

The management of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo State, has warned students against working for or recruiting others into Neolife, a retail health and wellness marketing organisation, threatening disciplinary action against defaulters.

The warning was contained in a memo dated January 7, 2026, in which the university announced the proscription of the organisation on campus, citing concerns over students’ academic progress and alleged unethical practices.

In the memo signed by the institution’s media officer, Wale Akinlabi, the university said it had received reports of what it described as the “illegal activities” of Neolife, particularly its recruitment of students into its business network.

“The university management has been informed of the illegal activities of a group called NEOLIFE which has been recruiting students to join their businesses,” the memo read.

According to the management, the activities of the organisation were allegedly affecting the academic performance of students and subjecting some to harassment after attempting to disengage.

“Unfortunately, the conduct of the organisation as alleged is humiliating, as well as affecting academic progress of students involved, and so many students who have joined and tried to opt out have faced harassment and torment from the so-called NEOLIFE,” the statement added.

The university directed all students currently involved with the organisation to immediately disengage and warned against recruiting fellow students either on or off campus.

“Any student caught working for or recruiting for NEOLIFE after this notice will face disciplinary action,” the memo stated.

The directive became public after a copy of the memo surfaced on the social media platform X, where it was shared by a user identified as Mustapha Gbolahan, popularly known as Arojinle.

Confirming the authenticity of the document, Akinlabi told The Foundation for Investigative Journalism that the memo was officially issued by the university.

“Yes, it is from our university,” he said.

Neolife has recently attracted widespread public scrutiny following accounts from former marketers and their relatives who alleged exploitation, financial losses and psychological pressure while working with the organisation.

Discussions around the company have focused on its aggressive recruitment of young people, particularly students, which critics say distracts them from their academic pursuits.

In 2022, FIJ reported that the company allegedly lured unemployed youths with attractive job offers, only for many to later discover they were part of a pyramid-style marketing structure driven by unrealistic income promises.

A separate report by The Punch also detailed how some individuals were allegedly deceived into believing they could earn millions of naira within a short period by recruiting others into the scheme.

Several former marketers were reported to have accumulated debts after failing to meet targets, while some resorted to street marketing of health supplements to survive.

Efforts to obtain a response from Neolife were unsuccessful as of press time, as calls to a phone number reportedly linked to the company’s Nigerian headquarters in Lagos did not connect, and messages sent were not returned.