FUNAAB bows to pressure, Accepts Usage of Niqab for Female Muslim Students on Conditions

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) has finally accepted the usage of Niqob (veil) for all Muslim women in the school with some strict conditions attached.

The new development is coming following stiff resistance its earlier decision against the dress code has met. It however came with stringent rules compelling facial identification of the muslim females at different points on campus.

Recall that the school management banned the use of Niqab in 2021, leading to criticism from Muslims and human rights groups.

On September 11, 2023, Muslim students in their numbers, took to the University’s gate, carrying placards with different inscriptions to protest against the bullying and victimization by the school management against students wearing Niqab.

The students said it is beyond any justification for the school management to allow some students to roam almost naked around the school premises and have issues with Muslim students who are covering their bodies with niqabs.

However, the school management following its Special Meeting held on Friday, September 29, 2023, finally bowed to the pressure to issue a statement allowing the use of niqab for all female Muslims students on certain conditions.

The school management in the circular issued confirming the development approved the recommendations on students’ dress code as follows:

i. Every student using veil must register with the Student Affairs Division through a recognized religious body on the Campus;

ii. He/she must identify him/herself facially and with his/her identity card to the Security personnel at the gate of the University;

iii. Any student using veil is free to use it while in open places or moving around the Campus;

iv. He/she must identify him/herself facially and with his/her identity card at the entry point of public facilities such as classrooms, laboratories, lecture theatres, clinic, farms, etc;

v. He/she must facially identify him/herself and with his/her identity card and must not use the veil during Continuous Assessment Test (CAT) and Examinations and can sit in the front row of the class; and

vi. Facial identification of veiled female students should be done by either female security personnel, female staff or any responsible female student.