The National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, has criticized the decision by some northern state governments to shut down schools for five weeks during the Ramadan fasting period.
The affected states—Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi—ordered the closures, sparking widespread backlash. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program on Channels Television, Adeyemi argued that suspending education for Ramadan contradicts the principles of Islam.
“For me, I see this as political. If you know the history of fasting in Islam, you’ll realize that difficult circumstances have never stopped Muslims from fulfilling their obligations,” he said.
Citing historical examples, Adeyemi recalled that one of Islam’s most significant battles, the Battle of Badr, was fought during Ramadan, yet the Muslim army emerged victorious despite being outnumbered. He emphasized that Ramadan is a time for devotion, focus, and hard work, not an excuse to halt education.
“This idea of closing schools, I don’t support it. It doesn’t reflect the true teachings of Islam. Even when we were in school, I performed excellently in my exams during Ramadan because the period teaches discipline and focus,” he added.
Adeyemi also questioned why such holidays were being introduced, noting that Islam encourages productivity. “Even on a Friday, Islam does not ask traders to shut their shops entirely—only to pause for prayers and resume business afterward.”
The school closures have also drawn criticism from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which described the decision as discriminatory and counterproductive. CAN argued that suspending education in a region already grappling with high poverty and illiteracy rates would further harm students, particularly non-Muslims.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria had approximately 18.3 million out-of-school children as of 2024, a crisis that such prolonged closures could exacerbate.
