The Oyo State Government has reaffirmed that female students in public schools are permitted to wear the hijab as part of their official uniform.
The clarification follows complaints from parents and reports that some schools had denied entry to students wearing the religious head covering.
Dr Nurain Adeniran, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and the Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), issued the directive jointly, with the endorsement of the Commissioner for Education. They stated that no student should face discrimination based on their religious appearance.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Oyo State chapter stated that it intervened after receiving reports from affected parents. It confirmed that the state government acted swiftly to address the concerns and instructed schools to comply with the policy.
The group welcomed the move as a step towards protecting students’ rights. It also urged pupils to report any further cases of denial or harassment.
The issue of hijab in Nigerian schools has been a source of debate in several states, with disputes often centring on whether religious attire should be allowed in public institutions.
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