The Lagos State Government has approved the use of hijab in public schools in the state, following the controversies that trailed the issue of hijab use by students.
The approval was declared on Tuesday in an official circular sent to all the education districts in the state.
You will recall that there were lots of reactions from Islamic stakeholders as at least five students were given suspension letter for wearing Hijab at Isolo Secondary school in September, 2018.
Part of the reactions was one of the press statement issued by Mrs. Mutiat Balogun, Executive Director, Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative who stated that the school through its Head Principal, Mrs. J.O. Sadare had been depriving Muslims students from practising their religious rights.
Balogun stated that the five students, including the Assistant Head Girl who pleaded anonymity and other Muslim students had been wearing the Hijab for over two years, an act which was prohibited by Mrs. Sadare.
She said that such act should be put on hold since the subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal in the case of Asiyat Abdulkareem against the Lagos State Government stated unequivocally stated that wearing Hijab by students within and outside the school premises is a Fundamental Human Right to be enjoyed by the students.
Balogun employed all and peaceful means to uphold the rights of the students as she implored all well meaning Lagosians, Nigerians and citizens to support the Islamic rights of the students in order to allow religious practices practised in schools.
The issue has finally been resolved as the state government directed all concerned stakeholders to allow the use of hijab by the female students across public schools in the state.
