Picture of FUNAAB and a fully hooded Hijabi
By Foluso Adelaja
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is wroth with its female Muslim students who are in the habit of refusing to uncover their faces to examination officials and invigilators for cross checking with their identity cards before entering the Examination Halls.
According to our source, the veiled Muslim female students popularly called ‘Hijab Students’ on campus have formed the habit of coming to school during examination periods well covered with socks and gloves, not permitting any form of identification whatsoever.
The source told THE STATEPOST that even when the school authority decided to meet these recalcitrant Hijabis halfway by allowing that they should unveil to female officials only, they still refuse to cooperate, insisting that they would not open their faces to anybody at all.
FUNAAB now sees these willful acts of these Hijabis which is now becoming rampant in the school as obnoxious and a deliberate refusal to obey lawful authority, hence the school wants to take a definite stand against its progression.
The school has therefore warned its students “not to hide under religious sentiments to trample on the school’s authority and laws”.
In a Release issued on July 17, 2023, and signed by the Registrar of the University, Dr. ‘Bola Adekola, the school stressed the need for facial identification for all its students at all times within the University Community.
In a bid to ensure strict compliance with extant regulations and principles guiding the conduct of students within the campus, the University Management also reiterated the approved dress code for students coming into the campus.
The release reaffirmed that the decision of the Senate of the University at its meeting of Tuesday, December 14, 2021, on the issue of Dress Code as communicated to the University Community via a circular FUNAAB/REG.11/VOL. III/52 of December 16, 2021, remained the final position on the subject matter.
The Release further laid emphasis on the need for facial identification of all students at all times within the University Community, noting that Farm Practical Year students should wear the approved green jumpsuit, rain boot and hand gloves for their convenience and personal safety on the farms during the Farm Practical Year.
Reacting to some online reports on the University from misguided and faceless individuals perceived to allegedly be using religious sentiments to disrupt the endearing peaceful, harmonious and congenial academic environment in the University, the Management stated that a judgment of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta with suit number FHC/AB/FHR/12/2022 dated May 19, 2022, before His Lordship, Hon. Justice O. O. Oguntoyinbo ruled that the sole issue of use of face veil also known as ‘Niqob’ was resolved in favour of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), who was the Respondent in the matter.
The court also ruled that fundamental human rights of freedom is not absolute in this instance.
The Management, however, admonished any aggrieved person to approach the courts for a comprehensive interpretation of the judgement.
Besides, the University emphasised that there is nowhere in the world where anyone can enjoy public service anonymously without the consent and approval of the Service Provider, stressing that religion has absolutely nothing to do with the issue in question.
