When Will We Truly Learn Tolerance?

Yesterday, a disturbing video went viral showing a female student in Ilorin (a Federal Government school, for that matter) being barred from entering her school simply because she wore a hijab.

Honestly, one cannot help but ask: When will we learn to tolerate one another in this country?

Has the Nigerian Constitution suddenly changed to deny people the freedom to profess and practice their faith openly? What happened to the Supreme Court judgment that explicitly affirmed the right of Muslim girls to wear hijab in schools if they so wish?

Even more ironic this happened in Ilorin, a city with a rich Islamic heritage and majority Muslim population. If such acts of intolerance can happen there, what should we expect elsewhere?

But then again, what exactly is the problem?
If my daughter wears a hijab, or my wife chooses to wear a niqab, have I forced it upon anyone’s daughter? Why then should it become a national issue?

The truth is, until we begin to genuinely respect each other’s faith and freedom, peace and unity will remain elusive in this country. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that freedom must mean the right to live our beliefs, not just declare them.

Even in some Western countries, with a much smaller Muslim population, women are allowed to wear hijab or niqab freely in schools and public spaces. So, what exactly is our excuse here in Nigeria, a country that proudly claims to uphold religious liberty?

Let’s be honest, this isn’t about dress code. It’s about tolerance, respect, and justice.
And until we uphold these, we’ll keep failing as a truly united people.