Lagos, Thursday, 12/02/2026
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, welcomes with profound relief, deep gratitude, and unwavering conviction the judgment of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal by Rivers State University (RSU) and affirming, once and for all, the constitutional right of Muslim students to worship freely on campus.
This is not merely a court victory. It is a victory for the Constitution. A victory for conscience. A victory for justice over prejudice. And a victory for faith over fear.
For over a decade, Muslim students at Rivers State University were denied a right that should never have been contested – the right to pray. Yet, rather than retreat into despair or be provoked into disorder, these students chose the noblest path available in a democracy: the path of law, patience, and principled resistance. MPAC salutes their resilience, their restraint, and their unwavering determination to pursue justice through constitutional means.
Their courage proves that faith is not weakness – and that patience, when guided by principle, is a formidable force.
We commend the judiciary – at every level – for standing firm in defense of the Constitution and for sending a clear, unambiguous message: no authority, no institution, and no sentiment – however dominant – can override the fundamental rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.
MPAC now calls on the authorities of Rivers State University to obey the law, respect the judgments of the courts, and immediately implement the rulings without hesitation, delay, or distortion. Continued defiance is not just administrative misconduct – it is an assault on constitutional order and an open declaration of contempt for the rule of law.
More importantly, the university must abandon every form of persecution, exclusion, and hostility directed at Muslim students – practices often rooted in Islamophobic attitudes and institutional bias. A university must be a sanctuary of knowledge, not a theatre of discrimination; a centre of enlightenment, not an engine of exclusion.
This judgment resonates far beyond Rivers State.
It speaks powerfully to Muslim minority communities across the South-East and South-South sub-regions, many of whom continue to face systemic denial of their religious rights in schools, workplaces, and public institutions. MPAC insists that this ruling must mark the beginning of a new era – one where Muslim minorities are no longer compelled to beg for rights that the Constitution already guarantees.
Religious freedom is not a concession. It is not a favour. It is not negotiable. It is a right – absolute, constitutional, and inviolable.
Nigeria cannot aspire to unity while permitting discrimination. We cannot preach peace while tolerating persecution. And we cannot build democracy while denying citizens the freedom to worship.
MPAC remains resolute in its mission to defend justice, uphold constitutional values, and ensure that no Nigerian – anywhere, anytime – is denied dignity because of their faith.
-The End-
Disu Kamor
Executive Chairman
Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria
kamor.disu@mpac-ng.org
www.mpac-ng.org
