The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights group, has strongly condemned the treatment of Muslim nursing students in some Nigerian medical colleges. The group is calling on female Muslim students who are being discriminated against for wearing hijabs to take legal action.
In a statement issued on Monday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, of being one of the main offenders. According to MURIC, the nursing school has been enforcing a dress code that violates the rights of Muslim female students, particularly those who wish to wear trousers and hijabs.
“We have received numerous complaints from Muslim student nurses across Nigeria,” Professor Akintola said. “Many of them are reporting that they are being forced to wear short skirts, which is against their religious beliefs. Some institutions are even banning trousers, which are allowed by the council governing nursing education.”
The complaints also revealed that female Muslim nursing students are often presented with new regulations to sign, and those who refuse to comply risk having their studentship revoked.
Akintola argues that this treatment is not only unjust but also illegal. “It is clear that these actions are in direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of religion,” he said. “Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution protects the right of every Nigerian to practice their religion, including how they dress.”
MURIC’s main concern revolves around the requirement for Muslim women to wear short skirts and to be denied the right to wear hijabs in certain nursing schools. According to Islamic teachings, Muslim women are expected to wear modest clothing, which includes long skirts or trousers and a hijab.
“It is well known that Islamic rules forbid Muslim females from wearing short skirts or any skimpy dress,” Akintola explained. “The ideal dress for a Muslim woman includes a long skirt or trousers, along with a hijab. Any institution that forbids these dress codes is discriminating against Muslim students and infringing on their fundamental rights.”
The group has stated that the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan is the worst offender, having been specifically mentioned by complainants. MURIC is now urging female Muslim students at affected schools to consider legal action or peaceful demonstrations to challenge the policies.
“The law is on their side,” said Akintola. “No institution has the right to impose a dress code that contradicts a person’s religious beliefs. If Muslim students want to wear trousers and hijabs, they have the constitutional right to do so.”
In his statement, Akintola pointed out that the current dress codes in some Nigerian nursing schools reflect outdated colonial standards. He argued that the insistence on a Western-style dress code for nurses, including the requirement for short skirts and the prohibition of hijabs, is a legacy of British colonial rule.
“The colonial mentality still persists,” Akintola said. “We should not be bound by colonial laws and regulations. The dress code imposed on Nigerian nurses is based on British standards, but Nigeria is no longer a British colony. We must ensure that our institutions reflect our own values and beliefs.”
The MURIC director further emphasized that any new regulations put in place by medical colleges must comply with the Nigerian Constitution. “Any rule that violates the constitution is void,” Akintola said. “The dress codes currently being enforced by nursing schools are not only outdated but also illegal.”
MURIC’s statement has sparked a wider debate about the role of religion in Nigerian educational institutions. Some have criticized the dress code requirements, arguing that they undermine the rights of Muslim women to express their faith. Others have supported the nursing schools, claiming that institutions have the right to set their own standards of dress for students.
Professor Akintola, however, remains firm in his belief that the rights of Muslim students must be upheld. “We will continue to fight for the rights of Muslim students in Nigeria,” he said. “It is time for these medical colleges to respect the constitution and allow Muslim female students to dress according to their faith.”
The controversy surrounding the dress codes for Muslim students in Nigerian medical schools is far from over. As MURIC calls for legal action and peaceful protests, it remains to be seen whether the affected institutions will revise their policies or continue to face legal challenges.
