Enforcement of Islamic Law on Dress Code (Hijab) in Public Schools in Kano State

The right to wear the hijab in public schools in Nigerian states has generated significant legal and constitutional controversy, particularly following litigation in South West states. In Kano State, the question assumes a different dimension given the state's Sharia legal framework and predominantly Muslim population, where state educational authorities enforce dress codes that include religious modesty requirements. This study examines the legal basis for enforcing Islamic dress code requirements in public schools in Kano State and evaluates the consistency of enforcement with both Islamic jurisprudence and constitutional rights protections. A doctrinal and descriptive methodology is applied, combining analysis of Kano State school regulations, relevant court decisions, and policy documents with questionnaire surveys administered to 200 students and 40 teachers across ten public schools. The study investigates the intersection between Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (freedom of religion), Islamic law obligations regarding Hijab, and institutional school authority. Available literature on hijab law in Nigeria identifies different legal regimes in northern and southern states as creating divergent outcomes for Muslim female students. The Fiqh al-Maliki provisions on mandatory covering in Islamic law provide the doctrinal framework. Findings are expected to reveal broad community support alongside residual enforcement inconsistencies. Recommendations address harmonised school dress code policies and student rights awareness programmes. Keywords: hijab, Islamic dress code, public schools, Kano State, constitutional rights.