A photograph of 14-year-old Maryam Yusuf, who helped Nigeria win its first Spelling Bee World Cup title, is at the centre of a row after it emerged that an image published by Vanguard Newspaper appeared to show her without the niqab she wore in the original photograph released by competition organisers.

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has called on the Nigeria Press Council to investigate the alleged alteration, describing it as a breach of the teenager’s religious identity and of journalistic ethics.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos, the organisation said Vanguard was yet to explain how the image came to be published, but insisted the matter demanded urgent clarification. Should the photograph prove to have been digitally altered, MPAC said, it would amount to a serious violation of editorial integrity and respect for religious identity.

The call comes days after Maryam faced criticism online over her appearance, when pictures of the Nigerian team were shared ahead of the competition. MPAC said much of the commentary at the time dwelt on her niqab rather than on her academic achievement.

Maryam has since returned home a gold medallist, having helped Nigeria to a historic victory in its first appearance at the global competition.

MPAC argued that the episode reflected a wider prejudice against visibly identifiable Muslim women, whose religious dress, it said, often draws more attention than their accomplishments. The group also accused sections of the media of a double standard, saying photographs of women in hijab or niqab tend to be published prominently when tied to negative stories, yet are altered or played down when linked to achievement.

Wearing the hijab or niqab, MPAC said, does not limit a woman’s capacity to excel in education, science, medicine, law, business or public life, and Maryam’s success was proof that faith and academic excellence could coexist.

The organisation referred to remarks made by its executive chairman, Disu Kamor, at the seventh anniversary lecture of Muslim News Nigeria, in which he cautioned against media narratives that treat visibly identifiable Muslims with suspicion while ignoring their contributions to society. Fair and accurate reporting, MPAC said, was a basic requirement of responsible journalism, regardless of a subject’s religion.

It added that bias in the media is not confined to inaccurate reporting but can also show up in editorial choices about whose achievements are highlighted and how people are portrayed. Media houses, it said, needed to take greater care in their use of artificial intelligence and digital editing tools, as public trust in journalism rests on authenticity and accountability.

MPAC called on Vanguard to explain how the photograph was published and, should it be confirmed that the image had been altered without authorisation, to issue a public apology, publish the original photograph and review its editorial procedures.

The organisation said it would also submit a formal petition to the Nigeria Press Council, asking the regulator to investigate what it called a breach of Maryam’s rights to dignity, religious identity and accurate representation, and to take disciplinary action where warranted.

It urged Nigerian media organisations more broadly to examine their treatment of Muslim representation and ensure equal respect for the dignity and religious freedoms of all citizens.

MPAC congratulated Maryam Yusuf and her teammates, Oluwadamilola Adeolu, Abdurrahman Yusuf and Chinedu Okediachi, for securing Nigeria’s victory at the 2026 Spelling Bee World Cup, saying the achievement should unite the country and show that excellence transcends religion, ethnicity and appearance.