MURIC has accused Adeleke University of forcing Muslim students to attend Christian services and restricting Islamic practices on campus. The group urged the NUC to investigate the alleged religious discrimination, citing past complaints. The university has yet to respond to the accusations, sparking debate on religious tolerance in private institutions.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised serious allegations against Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, accusing the institution of religious discrimination against its Muslim students.
In a statement released on Thursday, MURIC’s Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, claimed that the university has been systematically compelling Muslim students to participate in Christian religious activities while restricting their freedom to practice Islam on campus.
Akintola alleged that Muslim students are required to attend church services as part of the university’s policies, with mandatory attendance on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays for those living in the hostels. According to him, students face restrictions on wearing the hijab, observing Salat (Islamic prayers), and practicing their faith openly.
The group also alleged that a Ramadan prayer session (Tarawih) held by Muslim students was disrupted by the university authorities, who reportedly warned them against future gatherings.
MURIC, which has been vocal about this issue since 2019, urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate the institution’s student handbook, which it claims contains policies that infringe on religious freedoms. The organization questioned why regulatory bodies have failed to act despite repeated complaints and called for immediate intervention.
The allegations have sparked a fresh debate on religious tolerance in Nigerian private universities, with calls for transparency in how institutions disclose their religious affiliations to prospective students. Adeleke University has yet to respond to the accusations.
