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In a landmark decision, the Oyo State Government has issued a directive affirming the right of female Muslim students to wear the hijab as part of their official school uniform in all public schools.
The move, hailed as a “historic victory for justice and equality,” comes after an intervention by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) following reports of students being denied admission in some missionary-founded public schools for wearing hijab
The directive was jointly issued by the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nurain Adeniran, and the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), and has been officially endorsed by the State Commissioner for Education.
The announcement follows a swift resolution process. Last week, MURIC’s Oyo State Chapter, led by its Secretary, Ambassador Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, presented affected parents and students to Dr. Adeniran after receiving complaints of admission denials.
“Dr. Adeniran gave assurances that the matter would be addressed and requested one week to provide feedback,” a statement from MURIC read. “Within two days, he called to inform us of the state government’s decisive action.”
The government has reaffirmed that no public school should discriminate against any student based on religious appearance. Consequently, all students previously turned away for wearing the hijab are advised to return to their respective schools immediately to resume academic activities.
MURIC has commended the Oyo State Government, SUBEB, TESCOM, and the Ministry of Education for their “prompt response and unwavering commitment to upholding the rights of every student.”
The group also issued a call to action, urging parents to report any instance of continued denial or harassment to its Oyo State chapter for necessary follow-up.
