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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Court of Appeal upholds hijab ban in University of Ibadan International School

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Court of Appeal in Ibadan overturned a High Court ruling that allowed hijab use in the University of Ibadan International School (ISI).
  • The appellate court ruled ISI is a private school, not subject to the Supreme Court's public school hijab judgment, and students waived religious rights by agreeing to the dress code.
  • ISI will enforce its dress code prohibiting hijabs starting July 6, 2026, following the court's split decision.

The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has reversed a previous High Court decision, ruling that students at the University of Ibadan International School (ISI) cannot wear hijabs as part of their uniform. The appellate court, in a two-to-one split decision, declared ISI a private institution, thus exempting it from the Supreme Court's ruling on hijab usage in public schools.

In public schools you can wear hijab on school uniforms based on the judgment of the Supreme Court, but the Supreme Court is yet to make any decision on the use of hijab in private schools.

— Justice Biobele GeorgewillExplains the distinction between public and private schools regarding hijab usage based on existing legal precedents.

The majority judgment, delivered by Justice Biobele Georgewill and concurred by Justice K. I. Amadi, stated that the right to freedom of religion is personal and can be waived. The court found that students implicitly waived this right by agreeing to adhere to the school's rules and dress code upon enrollment.

The right to freedom of religion is a personal right that can be waived, adding that the students had voluntarily waived that right by signing an undertaking to obey the school’s rules and regulations, including its dress code.

— Justice Biobele GeorgewillJustifies the ruling by stating students implicitly surrendered their right to religious expression through their agreement to school rules.

Justice Georgewill clarified that while hijabs are permitted with uniforms in public schools based on a Supreme Court judgment, no such decision exists for private schools like ISI. The dissenting opinion, from Justice Fadawu Umar, argued that the appeal lacked merit and should have been dismissed.

Following the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on Friday, declaring The International School, University of Ibadan, a private school, all students are required to comply with the rules and regulations of the School.

— ISI Notice to Parents and GuardiansInforms parents about the court's decision and the immediate enforcement of the dress code.

Following the ruling, ISI management announced that its dress code, prohibiting hijabs and headscarves with uniforms, will be strictly enforced from Monday, July 6, 2026. Parents and guardians have been notified to ensure their children comply with the directive.

Accordingly, with effect from Monday, July 6, 2026, no student will be allowed to wear a hijab with the school uniform.

— ISI Notice to Parents and GuardiansSpecifies the date from which the hijab ban will be enforced.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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