The thesis titled "Challenges of Muslim Women in the Western Part of Nigeria" by Abdussalam Saudat Titilola offers a comprehensive investigation into the systemic, socio-cultural, economic, and institutional hurdles confronting Muslim women in South-Western Nigeria. The study addresses the persistent underrepresentation of Muslim women in policy-making, governance, legal, and administrative frameworks. Despite constituting half of the region's population, Muslim women are frequently excluded from decision-making processes regarding peacebuilding, economic policy, and civil rights. The research reveals that conservative cultural interpretations and gender discrimination often silence female voices, labeling those who publicly advocate for their rights as "sinful" or "vicious."

The study systematically details the severe ordeals experienced by Muslim women in Western Nigeria, particularly over the past two decades marked by violence, insecurity, and economic hardship. Women bear the brunt of social conflicts, enduring high rates of sexual violence, involuntary pregnancies, displacement, and food insecurity. Economic instability, inflation, and job loss among male providers force many women to assume sole financial responsibility for their households. In the labor market, Muslim women face "multiple penalties" due to their gender and religious identity. Research cited in the study demonstrates that employers display reluctance to hire female Muslims, often subjecting them to illegal questioning about family commitments or forcing them to compromise their religious dress code.

A significant focus of the work is the ongoing struggle regarding the wearing of the hijab. Despite constitutional guarantees under Section 38(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Nigeria Biometrics Standards Regulations of 2017, Muslim women and girls face routine discrimination. They are frequently denied access to public services, banking institutions, biometric data capturing for national passports, and standardized examination halls (such as UTME) unless they remove or alter their religious head coverings.

To analyze these dynamics, the research employs two theoretical frameworks: Social Identity Theory and the Theory of Prejudice. Social Identity Theory explains how group dynamics foster in-group solidarity and out-group hostility, leading to discrimination against individuals exhibiting visible religious symbols like the hijab. The Theory of Prejudice illuminates how preconceived negative judgments, personality dynamics, cultural norms, and power-conflict structures perpetuate the marginalization of minority or vulnerable groups.

To counter historical and contemporary misconceptions regarding the role of women in Islam, the author presents an extensive review of trailblazing Muslim women from Islamic history. The text details the leadership, scholarship, and contributions of figures such as Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Aisha bint Abu Bakr, Sumayyah bint Khayyat, Nusaybah bint Ka'ab, and Khawlah bint Al-Azwar, alongside modern figures like Benazir Bhutto and Halimah Yacob. This historical background demonstrates that Islam inherently supports women's active engagement in business, politics, scholarship, medicine, and public service.

Methodologically, the study adopts a descriptive survey design, evaluating responses from 120 Muslim women across selected states in Western Nigeria (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos). Through questionnaire data analyzed via frequency counts, simple percentages, mean Likert scores, and Chi-Square statistical tests, the study assesses key indicators surrounding rule of law, workplace constraints, community isolation, and dress code restrictions. The empirical results reveal that structural discrimination and workplace restrictions significantly hamper women's practice of their religion and economic advancement.

Finally, the study outlines strategic remedies to overcome these challenges. Key solutions include promoting higher education and vocational skill development, fostering financial independence through entrepreneurship and microfinance, cultivating assertiveness, offering mentorship and leadership training, advocating for comprehensive legal reforms, and engaging religious and community leaders in promoting inclusive interpretations of Islamic teachings. The research concludes that sustainable social development and peace in Western Nigeria can only be achieved when Muslim women are fully empowered and integrated into all spheres of public and socio-economic life.