Nigeria Court of Appeal Reinstates Hijab Ban at International School Ibadan

The Ibadan Court of Appeal overturned a May 2024 Oyo State High Court ruling that had permitted female Muslim students to wear a hijab as part of their uniform at the International School, University of Ibadan (ISI). In a 2‑1 decision, the appellate judges held that ISI is a private institution and that the Supreme Court precedent extending hijab rights to public schools does not apply. The majority reasoned that the students had voluntarily accepted the school’s dress‑code upon admission, while a dissenting judge argued the appeal lacked merit.

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) denounced the judgment, describing it as an assault on constitutional freedoms guaranteed by Section 38 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. MPAC argued that a school’s funding status should not limit children’s right to religious expression and warned that the ruling could set a precedent for private schools to discriminate against Muslim students.

The decision leaves the school’s prohibition on hijabs in force unless appealed further to the Supreme Court.