The Oyo State High Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has affirmed the constitutional right of eligible Muslim female students to wear the hijab in government-owned public schools across the state, including schools with missionary heritage.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Y. S. Adekunle on Monday, also directed the Oyo state government to issue an official circular permitting the use of the hijab by eligible Muslim female students in public schools and restrained the enforcement of policies found to be inconsistent with the constitutional rights of the affected students.
Reacting to the ruling, the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) described the judgment as a landmark decision that reinforces the supremacy of the Constitution and the protection of fundamental rights, including freedom of religion.
In a statement signed by its Executive Chairman, Disu Kamor, MPAC said the judgment affirmed that government-owned public schools must be administered in accordance with the Constitution, regardless of their historical or missionary origins.
The organisation said the ruling followed years of litigation over the use of the hijab in public schools, during which Muslim students and their parents sought judicial intervention to challenge restrictions they considered discriminatory.
MPAC welcomed the court’s directive to the Oyo State Government to implement the judgment through an official circular and urged the government to comply fully with the court’s orders, stressing that respect for judicial decisions is essential to constitutional democracy.
The group also congratulated Muslim parents, students and community leaders involved in the case, saying their commitment to pursuing legal redress had contributed to the advancement of constitutional rights relating to religious freedom and equal citizenship.
MPAC commended the legal team that handled the case and praised Justice Adekunle for what it described as a well-reasoned judgment that strengthens confidence in the judiciary.
The organisation called on school administrators, education authorities, religious leaders, parents and other stakeholders to accept the judgment peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law. It maintained that the ruling should not be viewed as a victory for one religious group over another but as an affirmation of constitutional rights for all citizens.
While encouraging Muslims celebrating the judgment to do so peacefully and responsibly, MPAC said it remains optimistic about the continued protection of the constitutional rights of Muslim students across the country.
The organisation also expressed hope for a favourable outcome in the appeal involving the International School Ibadan (ISI) hijab case, which is scheduled to be heard on October 7, 2026.
MPAC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting constitutional liberties, religious freedom, good governance and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.