Hijab Controversy: Muslims in Kwara Want Schools’ Names Changed

In a letter to State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Muslim community-recommended six steps the government should take to address the issue of hijab-wearing by female Muslim students in all public schools in the state.

“The Kwara State Government should change the names of all schools formerly owned by both Muslim and Christian proprietors by adding ‘Government,’ e.g., Ansarul Islam Government Secondary School, Ilorin, Bishop Smith Memorial Government College, Ilorin,” the community stated in the letter.

On Monday, newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital, were given copies of the letter dated June 7, 2022, with reference number KWS/MS/01/22 and signed by Alhaji Ishaq AbdulKareem (Chairman) and Professor Ibrahim Abikan (Secretary).

The Muslim body also demanded adequate compensation for the family of the late Habeeb Idris, who was allegedly murdered on February 3, 2022, during the hijab crisis that rocked Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo in the state’s Oyun Local Government Area.

According to the letter, the Muslim community also wants “the Kwara State Government to build a new school mosque for Muslim students/teachers of Bishop Smith Memorial College, Ilorin to replace the one that was demolished.”

“The Kwara State Government should appoint a new Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, and the ministry’s permanent secretary should be transferred to another ministry.”

“The Kwara State Government must enforce freedom of worship in our schools by ensuring that separate devotions are held for Muslim and Christian students at the school assembly, and no external Imam or Pastor, other than school teachers, should be allowed to participate in morning devotion.”

“The Kwara State Government should ensure that, going forward, principal appointments and postings in all schools are based on merit and seniority and are solely the responsibility of the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission, rather than former proprietors, as is currently the case.”