Muslim Students' Hijab Crisis: Urgent Call for Action

The article highlights the ongoing crisis faced by Muslim female students in Nigeria who are unlawfully denied the opportunity to sit for examinations while wearing hijabs. Notable incidents occurred on April 25, 2025, at a CBT center in Ibadan, Oyo State, where Lawal Hameedat Adenik was forced to remove her hijab, leading her mother, Basirat Ojo, to take legal action for this violation of constitutional rights.

A similar incident was reported on April 21, 2024, at the Bafuto Institute in Ejigbo, Lagos, where students were again denied entry for wearing hijabs. Although the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) previously sanctioned staff for religious harassment, such incidents persist.

The article calls for examination bodies like JAMB, WAEC, and NECO to implement new policies that respect students' rights to religious expression and ensure inclusivity across examination centers nationwide.