A University Don, Dr. Saudat Abdulbaqi has decried the unending portrayal of women as sex objects especially through print and broadcast advertisements.

She said most magazines and newspapers' advertisments were designed with""scantily dressed women in alluring poses to attract the attention of men".

"This proves that the Western society considers woman only as a sex symbo", she added.

Abdulbaqi who is the National Amirah of the Criterion (Muslim Women in Business and Profession) stressed the importance of Hijab (covering) for all categories of women, saying this would protect them and restore their dignity.

She stated these while delivering a lecture titled, "Hijab and Niqab: Education and Enlightenment" at the ongoing Ramadan lecture series organised by the Islamic Missionaries Association of Nigeria (IMAN) in Ilorin, Kwara State. She emphasized that Hijab gives an aura of freedom to a woman as well as facilitate her movement and protection "from provocation and wanton greed of the human wolves".

The lecturer however lamented that western civilisation has reduced the use of Hijab. According to her, "The liberation of women in Islam is far superior to Western liberation as it allows women to live with respect, dignity and equality in society".

"Removal of the Hijab makes you vulnerable to the lust of men", she said, while puncturing the notions of Hijab as subjecting women to ridicule, imprisoning them, exposing them to heat among others.

She said, "Beauty is meant to be appreciated: True! But only by the husband. Hence women who truly love their husbands would never wish to be seen in public without Hijab.

"Women can achieve true dignity and experience true emancipation by observing Hijab and not by discarding it. Muslim women have no excuse but to wear hijab that covers the awrah completely".

She noted that the two religions of Islam and Christianity encourage women to use Hijab, adding, "Proper dress for women existed in all the laws revealed by Allah before Islam. Mary, the mother of Jesus wore the hijab. Also, today nuns virtually practice hijab for the same fundamental reason as the devout Muslim woman; to express piety as an individual who chooses to surrender their will to God and God's Sacred Law".

On how women should observe Hijab, she said, "Basically, the dress of ladies should cover the whole body except the face and hands (i.e. palms and fingers). Hair should not be exposed because Islam considers it as half of the total beauty of women. The Hijab could be of any form and color, one-piece attire or a three-piece ensemble, as long as it is not tight fitting, transparent and does not attract people's attention.

"As explained above, all that are permitted to be seen of a woman, are her face and hands. About her legs, she either wears long dresses that would cover her legs or she puts on socks. This is particularly compulsory when observing salat (prayer)".