Rita Odafe
Muslim Nurse Reflects on Challenges Faced in Nursing School
In Lagos, a nurse named Ibironke Khadeejah Quadri has shared her experience of being compelled to engage in Christian practices during her time in nursing school.
According to her, attempts to opt-out of these activities were met with serious repercussions.
She also pointed out that exams were routinely scheduled on Fridays, which conflicted with their Jumah prayers.
Ibironke emphasized the need for respect towards religious beliefs, stating that students should not be forced into any faith-related activities.
She remarked: “At the School of Nursing LUTH, student nurses were required to go around the hospital singing Christmas carols during the festive season, and as a Muslim, refusing was not an option.
“Our group tried to withdraw from this, but it led to significant backlash.
“Furthermore, our Jumah prayers were consistently disrupted by tests set for Fridays, despite the Nigerian constitution permitting prayer time. I truly hope that this has changed. These situations crossed many lines.
“Out of my cohort, there were only four Muslims, and we faced considerable challenges because of religious intolerance, highlighting the necessity for everyone to honor each other’s religious rights.”
Her account comes in the wake of a broader conversation about religious intolerance in Nigeria, sparked by a recent incident involving disrespectful banners displayed by the Lekki Central Mosque towards Christianity.
