Anger As Oyedepo’s Covenant University Bars Students Over Hijab 

There is outrage over the decision of the management of Covenant University, owned by Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, to bar Hijab-wearing candidates from sitting for the Mock JAMB examinations at its campus in Otta, Ogun State. 

Female candidates were delayed from entering the premises simply for adorning Hijab.

READ ALSO: FG Okays Use Of Hijab For Female Muslim Students 

In a 1:14 minute video about four female candidates wearing Hijab were stopped from going into the university due to the Muslim veil they adorned.

A parent, Mr. Olayode Akeem, who accompanied his child to the centre, said the security men prevented Hijab wearing candidates from entering the premises of Canaanland because they were acting on instruction from above.

It took the intervention of JAMB before the candidates were allowed in after waiting outside for more than one hour.

Another source who resides at Ota said, “I was at Convenant University on Friday and I witnessed it. A lady was told she can’t go in to write her mock exam or else she put off her hijab or turn it into scalf. This is height of impunity. This is pathetic and should be addressed before the exam date.”

Several persons have taken to Twitter to condemn the action of the Canaanland, asking the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to address the issue before the main examination day.

According to a statement issued by an Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), the affected Muslim candidates were delayed for about 40 minutes.

In the statement, MURIC called on the authorities of JAMB to sanction Canaanland and Covenant University “for disallowing hijab-clad girls from entering their premises for today’s mock examination”.

“The Muslim girls were delayed for 48 minutes while the examination was going on,” it added.

The group further said, “In the case of Canaanland, the students who begged for permission to enter were ignored until a parent sent Save Our Soul Message (SOS) to MURIC headquarters which sprang into action by contacting JAMB authorities as well as the Ogun State branch of MURIC. The SOS produced some results and the coordinator of the centre soon came with his car to ferry three hijab-clad girls into the exam hall. 

“The number of Muslim girls who wore hijab was actually more than that but about five or six had surrendered by removing their hijab after begging for more than one hour. Those who removed their hijab were allowed to go inside.

“Ogun State chapter of MURIC condemns this coercion, harassment and religious apartheid. We demand action from the JAMB authorities against the host communities, Canaanland and Covenant University. Those who cannot tolerate Muslim girls in hijab should not apply to host public examinations. Canaanland and Covenant have subjected Muslim girls to embarrassment, stigmatization and persecution.”

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