From Alfred Babs, Ilorin

Kwara State government has warned principals of schools in the state to desist from imposing the wearing of Hijab (Muslim veil) or beret on students in the state.

The warning came on the heels of fresh controversy on the wearing of hijab in some Christian Schools; Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo and St Claire’s Girls High School, Offa in Oyun and Offa Local government area respectively.

Speaking at a meeting held at the Kwara State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) in Ilorin on Friday, Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Bello Tauheed  Abubakar  reaffirmed the determination of government on religious tolerance among teachers and students, to enhance peaceful coexistence among the people of Kwara State .

According to a statement signed by Peter Amogbonjaye, Press Secretary in TESCOM, the meeting was held with the aim of resolving the crisis over Hijab which erupted of recent, at Oyun Baptist Grammar School, Ijagbo, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Bello reminded the gathering that, Kwara State is a state of harmony, therefore advised everyone to remain and be good ambassadors for the coming generation. 

The Chairman who warned that the present administration would not tolerate religious bigotry and therefore enjoined all to shun religious sentiments and respect the rights of individuals.

“He thereafter warned the Principals in Oyun axis to abide by the policy of the Kwara State Government and desist from imposing Hijab on any student, instead, it should be made optional.

Lending his voice at the meeting, a Permanent member of the Commission, Mallam Suleiman Danseko, urged the Principals across the state to shun hypocrisy and religious bias in discharging their legitimate duties.

Also speaking,  the president of All Nigeria Confederation of Secondary School Principals (ANCOPSS) Kwara State wing,  Alhaji Toyin Abdullahi, expressed his displeasure over the development and urged all the Principals to maintain religious neutrality in resolving any issue in their schools.

The meeting was attended by the representative of Ministry of Education, and Kwara State Primary Education Board represented by Alhaji Abdullateef Atanda.

It could be recalled that Kwara state government in January 2021 closed down 10 mission schools in Ilorin, the state capital over a disagreement by the schools’ management to allow Muslim female students in the schools wear hijab in the schools.

The government however resolved the issue after holding series of meetings with religion groups including the state branch of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Islamic organisations making the wearing of Hijab optional for students in the affected schools.

Meanwhile,the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWGN), a non-government organization has called Governor Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq not to allow some religious bigots parading themselves as religious leaders to turn schools in the state to battle-field.

MMWGN in a statement by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim made available to correspondents in Ilorin on Sunday alleged that some school principals and teachers want to use the hijab issue to cause trouble in their School; urging government to fish out such culpable  teachers who are employees of government and give them the deserved punishment.

“We believe the State Government has the capacity of dealing with them as they are civil servants ‘dancing to the tunes’ of some religious fanatics and Groups to cause trouble in the State”, the statement said.