Dr. Wulemat Adeyinka Bello-Olarinmoye, a senior lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), has publicly dropped her Muslim name as a symbolic protest following the brutal murder of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto. Deborah was lynched by her schoolmates over allegations of blasphemy, an incident that has drawn national and international attention, sparking heated debates about religious intolerance, mob justice, and the state of human rights in Nigeria.
In an interview with TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE, Dr. Bello-Olarinmoye explained that the decision to drop her Muslim name, “Wulemat”, had been under consideration for years, but Deborah’s killing hastened the action. “I had been wondering why I had to bear a foreign name before I could serve God. Names are primarily cultural identifiers, not determinants of our relationship with the Almighty,” she said. She adopted the Yoruba name “Ariya”, meaning “celebration”, emphasizing that faith is a matter of the heart and not tied to the origin of one’s name.
The LASU don condemned Deborah’s killing as “barbaric” and “totally un-Islamic”. She said the act violated the sanctity of human life and portrayed Islam in a negative light. “Even Islam admonishes that if you want to kill an animal for food, you must do so with sobriety and mercy. I have never seen any portion of the Qur’an or Hadith where blasphemy attracts lynching,” she said. Her statement is meant to underline that many Muslims oppose such acts and that the religion should not be associated with violence or mob justice.
Dr. Bello-Olarinmoye also criticized the Nigerian state for failing to uphold the rule of law. She expressed shock that suspects arrested in connection with Deborah’s death were charged with “breach of public peace” instead of murder. “The evidence is conspicuous. The leaders must stand up against jungle justice. Human lives are sacred and cannot be taken just like that,” she said. She lamented the lack of decisive statements from the government, stating that true leadership requires protecting all citizens equally, regardless of tribe or religion.
The lecturer used the interview to reflect on Nigeria’s broader sociopolitical challenges. She described the country as a “wrong contraption”, arguing that deep ethnic, religious, and regional divisions have been poorly managed, often resulting in inequity and insecurity. Citing personal experiences, she revealed fears for her children and herself when traveling to Northern Nigeria or during their mandatory national service, highlighting the risks posed by banditry, kidnappings, and potential attacks on the highways.
Dr. Bello-Olarinmoye suggested structural reforms as a solution, advocating for the empowerment of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones or regions to self-govern. “Anything outside that will not bring a permanent solution. Let people have their regions and develop them. That can bring solutions to many of the problems facing Nigeria,” she said. She added that a fair legal and political system, where laws apply equally to all, is critical to national cohesion.
On the topic of politics, the LASU don revealed that she had been encouraged to run for political office but declined due to systemic barriers. She cited the high cost of campaigns, the risk of resignation without guaranteed electoral success, and the lack of support for women in politics as deterrents. “Maybe when we begin to have godmothers, just like godfathers, who can bankroll women with political ambition, women will have no difficulty defeating the men,” she said.
Dr. Bello-Olarinmoye’s decision to drop her Muslim name is also part of a broader reflection on cultural identity and decolonization. “After centuries of colonization and recolonization, we ought to let go of things that attach us to colonisation. We need to redefine our values in education, science, technology, commerce, and even religion,” she said, emphasizing the importance of reclaiming African cultural identity and indigenous knowledge.
Her act has reignited national discussions on religion, human rights, justice, and the need for structural reforms in Nigeria. Many observers view it as a courageous statement highlighting the urgency of safeguarding human life, promoting religious tolerance, and fostering a society where justice is applied equally to all citizens.
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