An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, with attempting to forcibly Christianize Muslim students by disrupting their Ramadan activities and mandating attendance at church programs
The group claims that the university recently halted the Ramadan tarawih prayer and warned students against continuing, pointing to a broader agenda of religious suppression and raising concerns about religious intolerance.
MURIC alleged a pattern of behavior, including banning Islamic practices like Salat and Hijab while mandating church attendance for all students, including Muslims.
The organization called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate, pointing to specific rules in the university’s student handbook, pages 7, 49, 50, 56, and 60, that it says infringe on Muslim students’ religious freedom.
These accusations were detailed in a statement issued on Thursday, by MURIC’s Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola. He said, “The headquarters of MURIC has received several complaints of attempts to tactically de-Islamise and forcefully christianise Muslim students in Adeleke University, Ede”.
Akintola added, “The methods adopted by the university include compelling attendance of all students (including the Muslims among them) at the university’s church programmes. The supererogatory prayer held in Ramadan evenings (tarawih) was reportedly disrupted two days ago and the students were warned never to try it again.”
The Director further asserted that Christians in southern Nigeria use education as a tool to convert Muslims. He claimed, “These are signs of religious intolerance. We have said it times without number that Christians in the South weaponize education to convert Muslims.”
Akintola highlighted similar allegations from 2019, when the Muslim rights organisation labeled Adeleke University a “serial violator of Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslim students.”
He said, “As far back as year 2019, MURIC leveled serious allegation of religious persecution against Adeleke University. We also asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate the allegation.”
MURIC also questions the NUC’s inaction, asking, “What is NUC waiting for? This issue is already in the public domain,” and warns Muslim parents to avoid such institutions, alleging they hide their religious biases until students are enrolled.
