Muslim Women Celebrate Hijab Day Across Ondo
Muslim women across Ondo State came together to celebrate World Hijab Day across the three senatorial districts in the state on Saturday, 1st February 2025.
The women, led by the State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), NASFAT women’s wing, among others, marked World Hijab Day in Akure and Okitipupa, respectively, with the theme “Hijab is Unsilenced.”
The event aimed to highlight the significance of the hijab in Islam and raise awareness about the rights of Muslim women to practice their faith without fear of discrimination.
The President of FOMWAN, Ondo State, Alhaja Medinat Omikunle, represented by the Vice President, Alhaja Muslimat Yemisi Fadola, emphasised the importance of the hijab as a symbol of Muslim identity and respect.
Omikunle urged Muslim women to wear the hijab from infancy onwards, asserting that it was an essential part of their dignity and recognition as Muslims.
She invited others to join the celebration in future years to make the occasion even more vibrant.
In a chat with the immediate past State Amirah, Alhaja Aminat Akinpelumi Abibunllahi, the celebration began with a Jumaat service preceding the event on Friday, where the Imam of Okitipupa gave a sermon on the hijab and its usage.
The celebration continued on the day with an awareness walk, during which the women moved to the market to sensitise the public and distributed gift items to pregnant and nursing mothers.
A guest lecturer, Mrs. Falilat Adesuyan, also delivered a lecture on what one needs to know about the hijab and the pride of Muslim women, capping off the historic event.
The Assistant FOMWAN starw Dawah Officer, Alhaja Rashidat Bamisile, explained that the purpose of Hijab Day was to showcase the beauty of Islam, emphasising the Qur’anic directive for Muslim women to cover their heads and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on modesty.
Bamisile, reflecting on the achievements of the Hijab Day celebrations, noted progress in securing the right for Muslim women to wear the hijab in various professions, including nursing, the police force, and the military.
She encouraged Muslim women to embrace their faith confidently, asserting that they should not feel inferior for following the guidance of Allah, especially in regions where Muslim practices may be less common.
NASFAT Zonal Women’s Affairs Secretary, Alhaja Asiwaju Bello, expressed pride in the hijab as a symbol of modesty, dignity, and identity. Bello encouraged Muslim women to wear the hijab at all times, stressing that it is a way to proudly showcase their religion to the world.
Guest lecturer, Alhaja Medinat Mimiko, further elaborated on the theme “Hijab is Unsilenced,” highlighting the various ways in which the hijab is being silenced and the resilience of Muslim women who wear the hijab in the face of discrimination and prejudice.
She urged Muslims to challenge misconceptions that hijab-wearing women are uneducated or unsociable, pointing to the success of many hijab-clad women in various fields.
Mimiko reiterated that wearing the hijab is a commandment from Allah and called for an end to any discrimination against Muslim women in public spaces, including workplaces and schools.
She encouraged women facing such challenges to seek support, noting that regulations exist to protect their rights.
The celebration of Hijab Day underscored the continued efforts to promote religious freedom and gender equality, empowering Muslim women to practice their faith proudly and without fear.
