JAMB Okays Hijabs After Ibadan CBT Centre Barred Wearers
A major controversy has erupted after a female candidate wearing a hijab was reportedly confronted during screening at a CBT centre in Ibadan.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has now stepped in, confirming that the incident was caused by an overzealous ad hoc staff member — not official policy.
JAMB has issued strict directives:
✔ No candidate should be asked to remove religious attire
✔ All officials have been re-briefed nationwide
✔ Religious freedom remains a core policy
According to the Board, the CBT centre itself followed proper procedures, and the staff involved has been cautioned.
This development has sparked reactions across Nigeria, with many calling for stricter supervision of exam officials.
As UTME continues, candidates are urged to remain calm and report any form of misconduct.
The incident occurred at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre during the screening exercise for the first session of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Thursday, April 16.
The unnamed student sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was allegedly compelled to remove her hijab before being allowed into an examination centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said it swiftly intervened after being alerted, stressing that candidates wearing hijab should not be compelled to remove or alter their religious attire.
“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 statement read.
JAMB distanced itself from the action, insisting it was not part of its official protocol but rather the conduct of an overzealous staff member who failed to adhere to established guidelines.
“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 statement added.
The examination body reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights of all candidates, regardless of religious affiliation, emphasizing that freedom of religious expression remains central to its policies.
“We assure all candidates, regardless of faith, that their rights to religious expression including dressing remain a cornerstone of our policy,” JAMB stated.
It further disclosed that all ad hoc personnel involved in the ongoing nationwide examination have been re-briefed on approved screening procedures to prevent a recurrence.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that a student sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was allegedly compelled to remove her hijab before being allowed into an examination centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The visibly uncomfortable female candidate was seen in a video removing her hijab before proceeding into the examination premises.
An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), stationed at the entrance gate, allegedly denied her access until she complied.
Moments after removing the religious covering, she was allowed entry.
The video also captured aggrieved bystanders protesting in Yoruba, questioning why the candidate’s fundamental rights were being violated.
