Oyo FOMWAN Praises Court Ruling on Muslim Students' Hijab Rights in Public Schools

A Muslim women's group in Oyo State says a recent court ruling has settled a long-running question about religious dress in the state's public schools — and they're calling it a win for constitutional rights, not for any one religion over another.

The Oyo State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has praised a judgment from the High Court of Justice in Iyaganku, Ibadan, which confirmed that female Muslim students have a constitutional right to wear the hijab in government-owned public schools across the state.

The ruling didn't stop at recognizing that right in principle. The court also directed the Oyo State Government to issue a formal circular to all public schools, instructing them to allow eligible female Muslim students to include the hijab as part of their approved school uniform — closing the door on any ambiguity school administrators may have had.

In a statement released Tuesday and signed by the state's FOMWAN Amirah, Dr. Lateefat Olasumbo Dairo, the association described the judgment as a landmark victory for constitutional democracy, the rule of law, religious freedom and the protection of fundamental rights.

The group framed the ruling as a reaffirmation of several specific constitutional guarantees: freedom of thought, conscience and religion; freedom from discrimination; and the right to education. According to FOMWAN, no Muslim student should have to choose between practicing her faith and attending school.

The association also welcomed the directive requiring the state government to formally notify schools, arguing it removes uncertainty for administrators and reinforces fairness and inclusiveness across the system.

FOMWAN singled out several parties for credit. It commended the Muslim parents, students, and other stakeholders who pursued the case through the courts, calling their persistence and trust in the judicial process worth noting. It also acknowledged the legal team that argued the case, and praised the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Y. S. Adekunle, for a decision it says has strengthened public confidence in the judiciary.

Perhaps the most notable line in FOMWAN's statement was an attempt to head off any reading of the case as a sectarian win. The association was careful to frame it as a broader principle — that every Nigerian has the right to practice their religion free of discrimination, regardless of which faith they hold.