WORLD HIJAB DAY: FIRST LADY ADVOCATES ACCEPTANCE, RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE

By: Abdul-Qoyyum Adeshola, Badmus.

Date: Monday, 2nd February, 2026 (14th Sha'ban, 1447 AH).

FIRST Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians to uphold respect and understanding for Muslim women as the country marked the 2026 edition of World Hijab Day.

In a statement commemorating the global observance, held under the theme “Unity in Hijab,” the President’s wife applauded Muslim women for preserving their faith and sense of identity, describing the hijab as an emblem of modesty, dignity and spiritual commitment.

She explained that while the hijab carries deep religious meaning, it also reflects individual liberty and cultural pride, noting that Nigeria’s multi-faith and multi-ethnic nature should be embraced as a source of strength rather than division.

Mrs Tinubu stressed that peaceful coexistence can only thrive where citizens respect one another’s beliefs and cultural practices, adding that tolerance remains a cornerstone of national development.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Executive Chairman of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Disu Kamor, praised campaigners across the globe for amplifying conversations around the rights and dignity of hijab-wearing women.

In his World Hijab Day message, Kamor urged authorities and stakeholders to address lingering cases of exclusion and bias against Muslim women and girls, particularly within educational institutions.

He acknowledged that awareness about the hijab has improved globally but raised concern over continued reports of harassment and restrictive dress policies affecting female Muslim students in some public schools in Nigeria, especially in parts of the southern region.

According to him, such practices contradict constitutional guarantees on freedom of religion and personal expression, and weaken the foundations of a diverse and inclusive society.

Reaffirming MPAC’s solidarity, Kamor described the hijab as a symbol of conviction, identity and resilience, encouraging Muslim women to remain firm and confident in asserting their lawful rights.

Meanwhile, a network of Muslim women has appealed to the Federal Government to amend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform regulations to accommodate female corps members who observe the hijab.

Addressing journalists in Abuja during a weekend briefing to mark the event, a member of the group, Firdausi Amasa, said accommodating religious dress within the scheme would reflect fairness, inclusion and respect for diversity.

World Hijab Day is marked annually on February 1 to promote awareness, understanding and appreciation of the hijab and the women who choose to wear it.

The initiative was launched in 2013 by Nazma Khan following her personal encounters with discrimination for wearing the hijab.