The Osun State Area Unit of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria in a press statement signed by Amir in the personof Abdul Jeleel A. Arikewuyo, General Secretary, Abdul Wakeel O. Akanni and Public Relations Officer, Saheed A. Raji disclose that, “one Mrs Awoseemo, a Principal in the school of Nursing and Midwifery of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile in a meeting held with the students on 29th November, 2021 in the most uncharitable manner, unsuspectingly chastised, coerced, and threatened the female Muslim students of the school, their only offence was putting on Hijab on their school uniforms.”
The press statement released by the Nigerian Muslim student body on 30th November, 2021 said:”we received with utter consternation, the dreaded, naive analysis and submission of one Mrs Awoseemo, a Principal in the school of Nursing and Midwifery of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile Ife, on what constitutes the approved dressing codes for the Nursing and Midwifery students of OAUTHC.
“We have it on record that Mrs Awoseemo, the school Principal at a meeting held with the students yesterday, in the most uncharitable manner, unsuspectingly chastised, coerced, and threatened the female Muslim students of the school, their only offence was putting on Hijab on their school uniforms.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is instructive to emphasize that Mrs Awoseemo not only labelled the faithful sisters as extremist for covering up their heads as required of them by their religion, an act which found it’s acceptance in the Nursing and Midwifery Council guidelines, as well as the Constitution. The over zealous Nursing Tutor went a step further to forced the female Muslim students to sign an undertaking to removed their Hijabs or get rusticated, an order she was quoted to have emanated from the hospital authority at Ile Ife, the statement noted.
“It is pertinent to remind Mrs Awoseemo that the school, being funded by tax payers money remain one of the property of the Federal government, and she’s only a Principal at the instance of the government and not of her church, thus her radical attempt to evangelise the students under her care by all means, forms, and ways are hereby noted and by this medium brought to her employer’s and the general public attention.
Hijabophobia in the Public Space: An Affront to the Divine law and the Constitution
“May we state that Mrs Awoseemo’s dangerous flight, and crude attempt, from all intent and purposes, is an attempt to undermine the fundamental rights to freedom of Religion of the Muslim Students’ of the institution, and a clear dissonance and fragrant disobedience to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s guidelines and above all, to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore MSSN indicated that, “like Mrs Awoseemo, we have also been briefed of how members of staffs of Christian faith have subjected our members at Ilesa campus (Wesley Guild Hospital Unit)of the institution to ridicule, coersion, undeserved purnishments and expulsion threats for insisting on usage of Hijab. This acts from our tomentors who are fast to tagged and labeled us fanatics has made us to believed they may be truly enjoying the backing of the quoted authority to undermine the rights of our members, despite the glaring instances of acceptance of it’s usage by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“May we also state that, a school of cordinate jurisdiction named School of Nursing Osogbo has since conformed with the Nursing Council guidelines on use of Hijab and both Mrs Awoseemo and Mrs Fatoye can borrow a leaf from them.
“While we remain a peace loving people, and adherent of gospel of truth and peace, we will strongly deplore any attempt to trample upon our members’ rights as citizens of this country from any quarters.
It is pertinent for Mrs Awoseemo, Mrs Fatoye, their deputies and members of staffs to know that we shall explore all lawful and legal means to resist any attempt by anyone, group and or groups who may be sabotaging the efforts of our members to enjoy their inalienable rights. We advise Mrs Awoseemo, Mrs Fatoye and their backers to desist from their deceit of prevarication henceforth, the statement added.
