Right to freedom of thought,
conscience and religion is provided by section 38 of the 1999 constitution of
Nigeria. By virtue of this provision(i.e section 38 (1)) every person shall be
entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including freedom to
change his religion or belief, and freedom (either alone or in community with
others, and in public or in private) to manifest and propagate his religion or
belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance. Under section 38(2), no
person attending any place of education shall be required to receive religious
instruction or to take part in or attend any religions ceremony or observance
if such instruction,ceremony or observance relates to a religion other than his
own, or a religion not approved by his parent or guardian. Also, section 38 (3)
provides that no
religious community or denomination shall be prevented from
providing religious instruction for pupils of that community or denomination in
any place of education maintained wholly by that community or denomination.
The
fact that Nigeria is a sovereign nation and without any prescribed state
religion by section 10 of the 1999 constitution is strengthened by the above
provision of section 38.
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