The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, says Nigeria’s constitution allows Muslim women to wear hijab in line with the teachings of their faith.

He noted that all citizens are allowed to practise their religions as long as no harm or inconvenience is caused to other people.

He spoke at the National Mosque, Abuja, at a public lecture organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Muslim Women as part of activities marking this year’s World Hijab Day.

Adamu, represented by Hajiya Sidikat Shomope of the Social Mobilisation Department, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), said it was unfortunate that the controversy over the wearing of hijab in the country had gone down to the school level and generated needless clashes.

There was violence on Thursday at the Baptist High School, Ijagbo in Oyun Local Government of Kwara State, leading to the killing of Habeeb Idris, a Muslim student of the school, when a rally by the Muslim students was reportedly disrupted by hoodlums and security agents.

The minister said: “The wearing of hijab by Muslim women is a Sunna as recommended in the Holy Qur’an (Q 33 V 59).”

According to him, there is a lot the country can gain by dialoguing on matters of religious differences rather than resort to violence.

“Our children will remain citizens of Nigeria irrespective of their faith. They will live and interact in the world outside school where no boundary exists between the religions.

“We should understand that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of religion to all citizens. This, by implication, means that all citizens are allowed to practice their religions according to the teachings of their faith as long as no harm or inconvenience is caused to other people.”

He appealed to all traditional, religions and community leaders to use their offices to douse tension so that Nigerians could all live in peace, harmony and tolerance.

Adamu also called on parents and school teachers “to ensure that in both words and actions, they present the best model to our children to emulate.”

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Aisha Duku; Hajiya Maryam Bukar Abba; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Prof. Saadatu Hassan Liman; Prof. Rafatu Abdulhamid of the University of Abuja and the FOMWAN National Ameerah, Hajiya Rafat Sanni, asked hijab-wearing Muslim women to ensure that while the hijab covers their physical appearance, the essence on their lives and behaviours are also prioritised.

The wife of former Vice President Namadi Sambo, Hajiya Amina, said: “We are more determined to sensitize and promote this Islamic identity and culture without being intimidated.

Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who spoke on ‘The Hijab as a Metaphor of Our National Aspiration’, noted that it is the responsibility of everyone, especially government at all levels, to ensure that the rights of all female Muslims are protected to adorn hijab in public.

Basheer22:
You can't go to Baptist school and wear hijab. It doesn't make sense.

Lovenorth:
God bless Islam

Funnyandviral:
Christains will now be pretending as if it's only Muslims that cover hair, wear unrevealing clothes or are against drinking of alcohol and smoking

NoSentiment:
Hijab is biblical (see Genesis 24v 65)

However because nowadays pagans who call themselves Christians do not follow biblical injunctions, they rant and rave against hijab (veil)

Even the "mother" of their supposed god (Mary) veiled herself as seen in her portrayed.

Truthisunique2:
you made no sense

Nobody is saying you shouldn't do all these but don't do it on Christian tuff just like we don't in yours

Dem swear for una, that you can't exist without Christian and attachee by force

Funnyandviral:
You guys are the ones always pained, the Qur'an said it, whenever you see a true Muslim, we see satanic pains on your faces. What's the big deal in covering your hair, very simple stuff, but devil doesn't like it. Same school where girls turn their school uniform to miniskirts, nobody complains, even teacher will be sleeping with those students, but ordinary covering of hair, you guys will rather complain. Can you swear students of those school don't have sex, they even have sex with teachers.

You guys complain when Muslims cover their whole body, you shout hypocrite, but a Christain will wear mini skirt to church you say nothing.

That's why I said Christains do pretend they don't support covering of hair, I've never seen a Reverend sisters hair, is such holiness limited to them ONLY, you pretend as if you support drinking alcohol and smoking, you pretend as if wearing tight and sexy dress is biblical even your pastors don't complain, but deep down, you know all this things Muslims are doing is biblical[/s]

Truthisunique2:
[s]pains

All I asked was would you allah slaves die if you don't mingle with the children of God

You started crying with epistle, we all know you Muslims would eat yourselves with sharia and hisbah nationally, Yoruba fake Muslims would be raped anal like Buhari is doing druggie

You need christians to tame the beast in you

Highways:
Funny... Must we have to accept to be Muslims before we talk on an issue like this?



These guys are like Putin but they will all meet their Waterloo.... Rubbish

Antifraud00:
The Christians should have tolerance, Kwara state is a state with 70% Muslims. Infact, the affected school is a government owned school which Kwara state government is the sole funder.

No one will claim hijab right in Covenant University or secondary school but a government owned school is different. The school isnt owned by a religious body but Kwara state government.

ImaIma1:
You Muslims should be content with your own things. You built your schools, be content with them. You can as well wear hijab and the long robe in your schools. You can even teach the Qur'an instead of regular school syllabus.

But no, you must try to covert and dominate what belongs to Christians. Focus and building better standards of schools and send your children there. Don't always constitute nuisances in Christian schools.