By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says the incident of alleged restriction of hijab-wearing candidates at a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre in Ibadan, Oyo State, was done by an “overzealous” ad hoc staff member.
A video, which quickly went viral across social media on Thursday, April 16, showed hijab-wearing candidates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) being asked to remove their hijabs during a screening exercise at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre.
In a statement on Thursday signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said it intervened immediately after being alerted to the incident and called the official involved to order.
The board said it directed that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or alter it.
It said the action was not part of its official procedure, but the decision of an “overzealous” ad hoc staff member who failed to follow established guidelines.
The statement read, “The Board promptly intervened by calling the ad hoc official involved to order and issuing immediate instructions that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or alter it.
“The Board wishes to state clearly that this act was neither perpetrated by the centre nor part of its official protocol.
“Rather, it was the action of an overzealous ad hoc staff member who failed to adhere to the board’s established guidelines regarding candidates’ religious attire.”
The examination board further said it respects the religious beliefs of all candidates and has reiterated that no candidate should be discriminated against on the basis of faith or dress.
“We assure all candidates, regardless of faith, that their rights to religious expression, including dressing, remain a cornerstone of our policy,” the statement added.
The board added that all ad hoc staff have been briefed again on approved screening procedures ahead of ongoing examinations.
Recall that the 2026 UTME, which had over two million candidates registering for the examinations, commenced nationwide on Thursday, April 16, and is expected to be concluded on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
JAMB had earlier announced that candidates who registered for the 2026 UTME should proceed to print their examination slip.
