The Management of Federal Staff School, Adewole, Ilorin, has refuted claims of religious bigotry in the schools.

The Management, in a rejoinder jointly signed by the Chairperson of the Kwara State chapter of the National Forum of Heads of Federal Government Establishments in Nigeria, Fausat Folashade Kadir, and the Secretary, Ilufoye Kafayat, dismissed the allegation, labelling it a fabricated and malicious lie.

The schools were established several decades ago by 118 Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state and were, however, registered as private concerns.

Recently, a group of parents had alleged that the use of the ‘hijab’, a veil for willing Muslim female students, was being denied in the schools, which consist of primary and secondary sections.

A petition was subsequently written by some parents to the Office of the State Ministry of Education, alleging religious discrimination against the female Muslim pupils and students of the schools.

Sources claimed that a protest by the concerned parents was being planned but was later averted due to the prompt intervention of stakeholders in the state.

According to the rejoinder issued yesterday in Ilorin, the Management’s respect for freedom of worship remains sacrosanct, citing the construction of places of worship in the schools for the followers of the two dominant religions, Christianity and Islam.

“It is on record that Management respects the secularity of our existence and has never undermined the rights to religion of any student or staff. It was jointly decided in our general meeting that the ‘status quo ante’ should be maintained when tensions arose some years ago in the school as a result of clashes of interest between Christian and Muslim parents.

“The Management frowns upon discriminatory dressing that negates uniformity. Female Muslim pupils and students are allowed to wear their ‘hijab’ to the mosque for prayers and during MSS programmes, but are required to remove it in the classroom. A modern mosque and chapel were built in the school to enable learners to worship with ease and comfort.”

It added, “It is therefore embarrassing to accuse the schools’ authorities of wrongdoing over religious dressing. The general public is hereby enjoined to disregard the fabricated and malicious online posts and commentaries insinuating religious tension in the schools, which are far from the truth.”

The communique noted that, with the recent intervention of the State Ministry of Education and well-meaning stakeholders, the Management, subject to the approval of the general meeting of the forum, has resolved to design and implement a customised ‘hijab’ for female Muslim pupils and students of the schools.

“The ‘hijab’ will be customised to meet standards and maintain uniformity with the school uniform. It will take a short time before the final production, and usage will commence during the second term in 2026. Until the final production of the ‘hijab’ by the Management, the ‘status quo ante’ shall be maintained without further provocation.”

The Management appealed for peace and thanked the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, the media, and parents for their peaceful interventions.

Agitations for the use of the ‘hijab’ in some schools in the state previously caused unrest and nearly escalated into a religious crisis. Christian-owned schools, sponsored by the government, had resisted the introduction of the veil. However, the government of Governor AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, with the understanding of some Christian leaders in the state, intervened by allowing interested female Muslim students to commence wearing it in schools.