UCH Ibadan approves new rule allowing nursing students to wear hijab as part of their uniform

NIGERIA has averted another religious row after the University College (UCH) in Ibadan approved the wearing of the Muslim headscarf the hijab for its nursing students despite objections to the measure from some quarters.

Earlier this week, Nigeria resolved a similar religious row when University of Ilorin law graduate Firdaus Amasa, was eventually called to bar on Tuesday, six months after she graduated.  Ms Amasa had been denied to right to graduate earlier in the year when he set passed out after she insisted that she will not remove her hijab for the ceremony.

To avoid another such rows, yesterday, health minister Professor Isaac Adewole approved a report from the National Assembly's ad hoc committee on the matter. It had been set up to examine the standardisation of the use of the hijab as part of uniforms in Nigeria's schools of nursing and approved the measure in line with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

UCH's director of administration,  Mr AK Shinyabola, advised students who want to embrace their religion to do so in strict compliance with the approved standard. In the circular issued on behalf of the hospital’s chief medical director, Professor Temitope Alonge and addressed to all heads of department, he directed them to comply with the new rule.