Hijab Controversy: Kwara Government Insists It Has Taken Over Missionary Schools

Following the fracas that ensued between Muslim and Christian parents over the eligibility or otherwise on the wearing of hijab in Christian mission schools in Kwara State, the Government insists it has since 1974 taken over all missionary schools across both faiths.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Mamman Saba Jibril, since takeover, the State Government has controlled, managed and wholly funded and staffed the affected schools which ran and are still being run as public institutions adding that they are backed by laws especially Kwara State Education Law of 1996 (CAP E1 of the Laws of Kwara State).

The Statement further disclosed that arguments over the years that these schools still belong to either Muslim or Christian Missionaries have been flatly rejected by the Court hence Government totally rejects the claims some organizations are still laying to these schools as such claims are not known to the law.

The State government however maintained that it is not imposing the hijab, as it is not mandatory for all the schoolgirls to wear hijab but it is approved for any muslim school girl who wishes to use it.