The Lagos State Chapter of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Lagos State Government (LASG) to caution officers at various Education Districts across the State to stop what it described as CHRISTINISATION of Muslim children at various government schools through Christian proselytisation events disguised as empowerment programmes.
The Statement released on Monday, 6th October 2025 through its Chairman, Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu Ademola reads:
“It is with heavy hearts and sense of urgency that we send this unequivocal caution to Lagos Education officials through the Lagos State government to save our Children from Christianisation agendas of some officers at various Education Districts in the State in perpetual connivance with some Christian leaders who have been organising fake capacity building and education programmes for the students of government schools.
We have discovered that majority of these programmes are laden with Christian activities in which our children have been officially lured to participate through the indemnified directives issued by Tutor Generals/Permanent Secretaries (TG/PS) to Principals within their jurisdictions.
“It will be recalled that MURIC in Lagos State as at November 2023 urged the Lagos State Government to stop luring Muslim pupils and students in public schools to Christian programmes and subsequently appealed in September 2024 that government and its overzealous education officers should allow Muslim children to learn peacefully in Southern Nigeria without discrimination and forceful religious engagements. However, all these appeals have been jettisoned unabatedly.
“In a related development, we note with deep concern that despite the Supreme Court’s judgment which affirmed the rights of female Muslim students to wear Hijab in schools, we have it on good authority that some overzealous and holier than thou teachers and principals in Lagos State schools are still harassing and seizing hijabs from Muslim students. MURIC and unbiased Nigerians are watching as we beam our lights on these officers.
Also, it has been authoritatively confirmed that some principals in Lagos public schools denied Muslim Students from registering for Islamic Studies during the last WAEC SSCE examination held in 2025. They were allegedly forced to register for Christian Religious Studies. One of these principals has now been appointed as a Tutor General/Permanent Secretary.
“Thus we can see that apart from the Hijab controversy, WAEC registration for Islamic studies and under-representation in educational appointments, some officers of LASG are conniving with some Christians to convert Muslim children to Christianity through fake educational programmes.
“Exempli gratia, a directive purportedly signed by Mr M.O. Bankole on behalf of TG/PS of Education District V directed all Principals of the selected schools to release 50 students each to attend a programme tagged “Mind Builders Conference” as organized by Future African Leaders Foundation with the theme “Elevate, Innovate and Dominate” was found to be a Christian programme deceptively termed as an education conference. The Christian programme was held on Friday, 26th September 2025, at Open Field, 337/379, Old Ojo Road, Alakija, Lagos.
“Our investigation revealed that among the 28 public secondary schools compelled to attend this Christian programme in District V with a considerable population of Muslim students, were FESTAC Senior and Junior Girls Secondary Schools, Creek Senior and Junior High Schools, Alakoro Senior and Junior High Schools, Oshodi Senior and Junior High Schools, Ojora Senior and Junior Grammar Schools, and others.
It must be reiterated that this is not the first time a deceptive program of this magnitude has been organized while Muslim students and teachers have been forced to attend.
The legendary deception of the officials of Lagos State Education Districts in connivance with Christian apologists could be described as breach of trust, unethical, and unconstitutional in reference to Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion. We have in abundance clips and photos of our students in Hijab who were engaged and asked to accept Jesus during the programme.
“Furthermore, the vulnerability and bias of the Education officers in Lagos State Education Districts amplified the public notions that the Nigerian educational system has been bought over through corruption, incompetence and religious bigotry especially in the Southwest region whereas Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society where every individual has an inalienable right to his or chosen faith without coercion. What we are witnessing in Lagos public schools is horrendous. It must stop.
*“In light of the above, we urge the State Governor to direct the TG/PS and their bought-over officers across all Six Education Districts to desist from this unconstitutional venture as public servants and to live up to their responsibilities as incorruptible, god-fearing, and purpose-driven administrators. The incessant intimidations and religious bigotries meted against Muslim teachers, pupils and students in Lagos State must stop. Muslim children are not enrolled in public schools to be intimidated and converted to Christianity or any other religion. Their Allah-given fundamental and constitutional rights must no longer be denied, mortgaged, obstructed or twisted by anyone.*
“We urge Muslim parents, teachers, pupils and students in Lagos public schools to be law abiding, vigilant and remain steadfast in defending their fundamental rights as citizens and inhabitants of Lagos State. They should always report overzealous officers who deny their children their rights to the authorities. MURIC is watching. We will not allow these corruptible elements to succeed. We are all Lagosians and Nigerians, live and let us live!
#StopChristianizationInschools
#MURICisWatching
Dr Busari Muhammad Jamiu Ademola
Chairman,
MURIC, Lagos State Chapter.
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