This study examines the contestation surrounding the use of the hijab in Nigerian public institutions, situating the issue within broader debates on religious symbols, state neutrality, and the politics of recognition in plural societies. Focusing on Nigeria’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic context, the paper explores how disputes over the hijab in public schools and state-regulated spaces reflect deeper tensions related to identity, inclusion, governance, and social cohesion. Drawing on qualitative document analysis, the study engages legal texts, policy frameworks, judicial decisions, and media discourses to analyse how competing claims to religious freedom, secular governance, and institutional authority are constructed and negotiated. The research is theoretically grounded in social identity theory, securitization theory, and recognition theory, providing a multidisciplinary framework for understanding the dynamics of religious contestation in public institutions. The findings demonstrate that hijab-related conflicts are not merely legal or institutional disputes but are embedded in broader socio-political struggles over belonging, legitimacy, and symbolic power. These tensions often reinforce group boundaries and contribute to cycles of mistrust, politicisation, and social fragmentation. At the same time, the study highlights pathways for transforming such conflicts through inclusive governance, dialogical engagement, and context-sensitive policy approaches. By bridging religion, peacebuilding, and governance studies, this paper contributes to ongoing scholarly conversations on religion in the public sphere, conflict transformation, and social cohesion in postcolonial and religiously diverse societies. It also offers policy-relevant insights for managing religious diversity in public institutions without undermining constitutional rights or social stability.
ABEL ADEOLA ALAO (Fri,) studied this question.