Abiola Kolawole, Ibadan
A special lecture was on Sunday organised in honour of the 11 hijab-wearing female students of the International School, University of Ibadan.
The lecture which was tagged “BE FIRM” was held at the Islamic Centre, Bodija Ibadan.
In their separate lectures, the vanguard of hijab struggle at the Nigerian Law School, Barrister Firdaus Amasa, a gynaecologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Dr Fatimah Rabiu, Sister Mutiat Orolu and Engineer Sherifah Balogun-Adeleye called on the school girls not to despair in determination to do what is right even when there are difficulties and opposition towards doing what is right.
The speakers enjoined young Muslims especially the hijab-wearing females to be diligent, obedient and respect the constituted authorities without necessarily compromising the tenets of their religion.
In her lecture, Sister Mutiat Orolu explained that wearing of hijab is not only a right of identity for female Mulims, it is globally appreciated as a dressing of honour for the Muslims.
Speaking in the same vein, Engineer Sherifah Balogun-Adeyeye noted that hijab wearing is not a barrier to being intellectually sound just as it doesn’t hinder one’s growyh and development.
Engineer Balogun-Adeyeye maintained that Muslims should imbibe good characters as enjoined by Islam as this would attract others to Islam and the Muslims.
Orolu, a certified Engineer charged Muslim parents and guardians to do proper mentoring of their children and wards so that they could be good ambassadors of Islam and their communities.
While speaking, Barrister Firdaus Amasa said there are challenges on the way to do the right thing noting that, that should not discourage one from doing it.
“I mplore the students and everyone generally to be firm and be steadfast in spite of challenges that they might face in life, they should rely on Allah. There a lot of challenges but with Allah, it will be possible”
Barrister Amasa called on the government to face other developmental issues rather than frowning at the use of hijab.
“And to the government and every other Nigerian, it is high time we stepped forward. The issue of Hijab should not raise dust as it is doing now. We should have moved above that stage. The issue of hijab should not cause problem because in civilized countries, things like this do not cause issues. You wear your hijab, you appear in the way your religions preach. Hijab should not be a thing that will cause issue in the society. We should be civilized and leave the barbaric era, face other more important issue so that we can progress. May Allah make it easy.”
While speaking, Dr Fatimo Rabiu said the focus of the lecture was not just about the hijab but in other facets of human life, they should be firm.
Dr Rabiu, the hijab-wearing gynaecologist said, “It is not just about hijab, it transcends hijab. They need to be firm in whatever they do vis-Ã -vis their education, daily activities and domestic matters. It is all about being firm, being determined, not being intimidated; there are meant to be trials and tribulations they should make us turn all stumbling blocks to stepping stones to a greater height.
Education, their being, the immediate environment, they should be premium brand for their environment and their families
To our Governments, there are so many issues in which they are lagging behind. This hijab is one of them and we don’t just want them to take it as a wave of hand.We appreciate what they have done so far. I am from Lagos State I know the hijab matter in Lagos State with respect to nursing and my profession. I appreciate the government and I know they are going to do more.”
The event which was organised by the University of Ibadan Muslim Student Society of Nigeria Brotherhood was attended by the 11 ISI students, the Chairman, ISI Muslim Parents’Forum, Alhajj Abdurrahman Balogun, Professor of Agric Extension and Rural Development, Luqman Akinbile, the National Ameer of MSSN, Dr Taofeek Yekini among others.
