Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

OYO, August 1, 2026 – Muslim leaders in Oyo Kingdom on Saturday received a high-powered delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a visit that underscored growing collaboration in education, healthcare and Islamic development, with renewed commitment towards the establishment of a Muslim College of Nursing in Oyo.

The delegation was accorded a warm reception at a gathering attended by prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders from Oyo Land.

Among the dignitaries present were the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Fadhilatu Shaykh Imam Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu; Ash-Shaykh Sulayman Akhyar, who served as the special guest; Ash-Shaykh Mainasaro, the Ameerul Muslimeen; the Aare Musulumi of Oyo Land, Alhaji Adebayo Kamarise; the Chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo Land; Khalifa Hasbunallah Al-Oyowiyy; and several other religious leaders and stakeholders.

The gathering focused on mobilising support for the proposed Muslim College of Nursing, an initiative aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare education while promoting excellence in professional training within the Muslim community.

In his welcome address, the Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Land, Shaykh Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, expressed appreciation to the Saudi delegation and other distinguished guests for identifying with the vision of establishing the institution. He described the proposed college as a strategic investment in human capital development that would benefit not only Muslims but the wider society.

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Also present at the event were the Muslim Ummah of Oyo Land and Fadhilatu Shaykh Dr. Rofeeu Adisa Ballo, who joined other leaders in reaffirming their commitment to ensuring the successful establishment and growth of the proposed college.

Speakers at the event stressed the importance of strengthening educational and healthcare institutions capable of producing highly skilled professionals while nurturing moral and ethical values rooted in Islamic teachings.

Special prayers were offered for the success of the proposed institution, with participants praying that Almighty Allah bless the sponsors, donors, scholars and all individuals contributing to the realisation of the project.

The visit also featured discussions on strengthening the longstanding relationship between the Muslim community in Oyo Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants emphasised the need for sustained cooperation in religious, educational and humanitarian programmes aimed at advancing the welfare of the Muslim Ummah.

In a symbolic gesture that drew commendation from attendees, the Grand Chief Imam granted approval for the head of the Saudi delegation to lead the Jumu’ah prayer at the Oyo Central Mosque, Akesan.

The honour, according to participants, reflected the spirit of Islamic brotherhood, mutual respect and unity among Muslims across national boundaries.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Imam reiterated that Islam encourages peace, dialogue and cooperation among believers, urging Muslim communities around the world to work together in promoting justice, harmony and understanding.

He said such partnerships remain essential to addressing contemporary challenges through education, religious enlightenment and community development.

Responding on behalf of the delegation, its leader expressed gratitude to the Chief Imam, traditional Muslim leadership and the people of Oyo for the warm reception accorded the visitors.

He described the opportunity to lead the Jumu’ah prayer as a great honour and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening religious cooperation and supporting initiatives that promote peace, unity, education and mutual understanding among Muslims.

The delegation noted that collaborations centred on education and healthcare development would contribute significantly to the growth of Muslim communities and the overall advancement of society.

The event concluded with prayers for enduring peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and the global Muslim Ummah.

Participants described the visit as a landmark engagement that not only reinforced the bonds of brotherhood between Oyo Muslims and their Saudi counterparts but also provided renewed momentum for the actualisation of the Muslim College of Nursing, which they said would serve generations of students and healthcare professionals.

Oyo Muslim Leaders Receive Saudi Delegation, Intensify Drive for Muslim College of Nursing

ICYMI: Court orders JAMB, CBT centre to pay ₦10m over forced removal of candidate’s hijab during UTME

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has ordered the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and PEFTI CBT Centre to jointly pay ₦10 million in damages to Miss Lawal Hameedat Adenike Olamide after ruling that her fundamental rights were violated when she was allegedly forced to remove her hijab before sitting the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Justice Y. S. Adekunle, in a judgment delivered last week, also declared unconstitutional, illegal, null and void any rule or directive requiring female candidates to remove hijabs worn for religious purposes as a condition for taking the UTME.

A Certified True Copy of the judgment was obtained on Thursday.

The suit was instituted by the candidate, who was a minor at the time of the incident, through her mother, Mrs Basirat Ojo Oba.

The case arose from an incident that occurred during the April 25, 2025 UTME at the PEFTI CBT Centre, located at 32 Oyo Road, Coca-Cola Area, Sango, Ibadan.

PEFTI CBT Centre is listed among JAMB-approved CBT centres in Oyo State. The centre has also appeared in JAMB’s official records relating to CBT operations in the state.

The claimant, through her counsel, Qousim A. Opakunle, argued that compelling her to remove her hijab before allowing her to sit the examination violated her constitutional right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

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The suit relied on Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which guarantees every person the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to manifest and practise religious beliefs.

The claimant asked the court to declare unconstitutional any alleged policy requiring female UTME candidates to remove religious head coverings before entering an examination hall.

She also sought written apologies from JAMB and the CBT centre, publication of the apologies in two national newspapers and monetary compensation for the alleged violation of her fundamental rights.

In his judgment, Justice Adekunle held that the action of requiring the candidate to remove her hijab before she could sit the UTME amounted to a violation of her constitutionally protected rights.

The court ruled that any policy, rule or directive introduced by JAMB or a CBT centre that compels female candidates to remove hijabs worn for religious purposes is inconsistent with the Constitution and is therefore invalid.

The court subsequently awarded ₦10 million in damages against JAMB and PEFTI CBT Centre jointly.

Justice Adekunle also ordered the defendants to pay ₦500,000 as the cost of the suit, bringing the total financial award to ₦10.5 million.

In addition, JAMB and PEFTI CBT Centre were directed to independently write letters of apology to the claimant and publish the apologies in two national daily newspapers within seven days of the judgment.

The ruling has drawn attention to the need for examination authorities and accredited CBT centres to ensure that security and examination procedures are implemented in a manner that respects candidates’ constitutional rights.

While examination bodies are expected to maintain strict standards to protect the integrity of public examinations, the judgment underscores the importance of applying such measures without imposing restrictions that are inconsistent with constitutional protections.

The decision may also strengthen calls for clearer and more uniform guidelines for CBT centres across Nigeria, particularly on the treatment of candidates who wear religious clothing.

Reacting to the judgment, Opakunle described the ruling as a significant victory for the protection of fundamental human rights.

He said the case was founded on Section 38 of the Constitution and reaffirmed the responsibility of public institutions and service providers to respect the religious rights of citizens.

The lawyer added that the judgment was particularly important because the claimant was a minor and required legal representation to challenge the alleged violation.

The ruling adds to ongoing public and legal discussions about the balance between religious freedom, institutional regulations and the rights of students and examination candidates in Nigeria.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no publicly available response from JAMB or PEFTI CBT Centre on the judgment.

ICYMI: Court orders JAMB, CBT centre to pay ₦10m over forced removal of candidate’s hijab during UTME

Gunmen invade Ogun polytechnic hostel, abduct five students

At least five students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade (GAPOSA), Ogun State, were reportedly abducted after suspected gunmen attacked a private student hostel in Ipara-Remo, prompting the institution to cancel examinations scheduled for Thursday.

The attack reportedly occurred on Wednesday evening at a private hostel located along Paraga Road, Ipara, a community near the polytechnic.

According to accounts from the school community, the armed attackers operated for about 30 minutes and fired gunshots before taking away some occupants of the hostel.

The incident caused fear among students and residents, particularly because the hostel was reportedly located in an isolated area surrounded by dense vegetation.

Following the attack, the management of Gateway ICT Polytechnic announced the cancellation of examinations scheduled for Thursday.

In a notice issued to students, the institution said examinations scheduled for Friday would proceed as planned unless a further announcement was made.

“Following the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday, today’s examination has been cancelled,” the notice stated.

“However, tomorrow’s examination remains scheduled as planned. If there is any change regarding tomorrow’s examination, an official announcement will be communicated promptly.”

The management encouraged students to remain calm, stay informed through official communication channels and continue preparing for their examinations.

The GAPOSA Students’ Union Government (SUG) later confirmed that five students were abducted during the attack.

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In a statement jointly signed by SUG President Akinpelu Bukunmi Timothy, General Secretary Salau Boluwaduro Saidat and Public Relations Officer Matthew Francis Sonayon, the union described the hostel as being in a remote location that could expose students to security risks.

The union said the attack began at about 7:45 p.m. and lasted for approximately 30 minutes.

According to the SUG, several students escaped through the ceiling of the building, while others were unable to flee before the attackers left the area.

The union said gunshots were fired during the incident but added that no student was reported dead.

“We can confirm that five students were abducted during the incident,” the statement said.

“The matter has officially been reported to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies, and we are confident that immediate efforts are underway to ensure the safe rescue of the affected students.”

The SUG appealed to students, parents, guardians and members of the public to avoid sharing unverified information that could create unnecessary fear or interfere with ongoing security operations.

It said some reports circulating on social media did not accurately reflect the information available to the institution and the affected community.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the police had launched a coordinated operation to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.

Babaseyi said tactical teams and intelligence personnel were deployed to the area immediately after the police received a distress report.

“The Ogun State Police Command is aware of the abduction incident reported at a private hostel in the Ipara area on the night of Wednesday, July 29, 2026,” he said.

“Immediately the distress report was received, the command activated a coordinated operational response, deploying tactical teams and intelligence assets to the area.”

He said bush-combing operations and other targeted security activities were ongoing to locate and rescue the victims safely.

The police spokesperson added that the exact number of people abducted had not yet been confirmed because verification and investigations were still ongoing.

The difference between the number confirmed by the SUG and the police position means that the final figure may be clarified as investigations continue.

The attack has renewed concerns about the safety of students living in private, off-campus accommodation, particularly in isolated areas with limited security presence.

It has also raised calls for stronger collaboration among school authorities, landlords, host communities, security agencies and student representatives to improve safety around student residences.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ogun State Police Command had not announced the rescue of the victims or disclosed whether any suspects had been arrested.

Security agencies are expected to provide further updates as rescue operations and investigations continue.

Gunmen invade Ogun polytechnic hostel, abduct five students