The Battle Over Religious Authority at UNILAG: What Sheikh Assim’s Visit Triggered

The arrival of Saudi-based cleric Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem for the Peace and Unity Convention 2025 has triggered intense debate and division across Nigeria, particularly within the University of Lagos (UNILAG) community. The event, organized by the faith-based group 1 Ummah NG, features two international Islamic scholars scheduled to speak in Lagos and Abuja. While their presence has been welcomed by some Muslim students and religious organizations, it has sparked resistance from certain authorities within the university, leading to accusations of suppression, bias, and abuse of religious authority.

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), UNILAG branch, had arranged for the visiting scholars to deliver lectures at the UNILAG Central Mosque as part of the convention’s campus activities. Students claim they submitted all necessary documentation nearly a month in advance, engaged the mosque leadership respectfully, and fulfilled every administrative requirement. However, they say they were abruptly informed—just about two days before the scheduled lecture—that the mosque management, under the leadership of UNILAG’s Chief Imam, Professor Ismail Musa, had canceled the approval. According to messages circulated among students, the stated reason for the cancellation was that the speakers were “international people,” a justification that left many bewildered and angered.

In their response, a group of Muslim students described the action as a continuation of what they call years of gatekeeping and hostility toward MSSN activities. They insisted that the UNILAG Muslim Council (UMC) has repeatedly used its control of the mosque to sideline students, deny them access to facilities, and restrict their religious programs without clear justification. The students said the mosque, which is meant to serve as a spiritual center for all Muslims on campus, has instead become a space where power struggles and personal disagreements overshadow community development.

Students further alleged that this conflict is not limited to the main campus. At the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), linked to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), some MSSN members are facing disciplinary actions. Their alleged offense is participating in activities associated with the MSSN without explicit authorization from the Muslim Council. Students accuse the authorities of intimidation, monitoring their movements, threatening them with rustication, and interfering with their right to worship and associate freely. They argue that MSSN, which has existed long before many of the current administrators, cannot be subordinated to the UMC, and that the council has no legal or Islamic basis to regulate their operations.

Another concern raised by students is the alleged commercialization of the UNILAG Mosque. They claim that they are compelled to pay substantial fees—sometimes as high as N150,000—to use the mosque hall for legitimate religious programs. Students say they have been denied a secretariat and administrative access, conditions they argue are unheard of in many other Nigerian universities where MSSN branches operate freely and collaboratively with mosque authorities.

The cancellation of the scholars’ lecture has ignited a larger online debate, with many young Muslims viewing it as part of a broader pattern of suppression. Some described the mosque leadership as authoritarian and unwilling to listen to student concerns. Others framed the issue as a denial of the students’ rights to religious expression and learning, especially considering that these scholars have visited Nigeria in previous years without incident. The anger spilled onto social media platforms, where hashtags emerged and users compared the current situation to past political and religious disputes on campus.

Amid the mounting controversy, some voices online have speculated that the ban was motivated by fears of extremism, although supporters of the scholars insist that they are reputable, widely recognized, and have participated in similar programs across Nigeria and abroad. For many students, the core issue is not simply whether the scholars are controversial, but rather the lack of transparency, dialogue, and respect shown in the decision-making process.

The tension has now expanded beyond UNILAG into a national discussion about religious freedom, campus autonomy, and the role of institutional authority in regulating spiritual activities. The unfolding situation has left many Muslim students feeling marginalized and frustrated, while others worry that the polarization could escalate further if left unresolved.