The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stated that hijab wearing candidates are not discriminated against during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration process, following a viral video that raised concerns about alleged religious bias at a registration centre.
The video, posted by social media user AsakyGRN, showed a man alleging that his sister was instructed to remove her hijab at a JAMB centre located at Afe Babalola University before being photographed. “I followed my sister to the JAMB centre to collect her form. She was told to remove her hijab before she could be captured. After the capture, they asked her to sign an undertaking to wear a hijab. Are Muslims now being discriminated against for wearing hijabs?” he stated in the video.
Responding yesterday via a statement on its verified account, JAMB clarified that it has never issued any directive preventing candidates from wearing hijabs during registration. “Thank you for your concern. However, it is important to state clearly that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, whether in the past or present, has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab,” the board said.
JAMB explained that the situation at Afe Babalola University involved a standard biometric guideline used globally for identity verification. “When his sister presented herself for registration, she was informed of the Board’s standard guideline, which is a global practice in capturing candidates for both an international passport and a visa, which requires that both ears must be visible during biometric photo capture,” the statement read.
The board emphasised that the requirement is purely technical, designed to support facial recognition and identification systems, and does not require candidates to remove their hijabs. JAMB noted that the candidate’s religious preference was respected and asked her to confirm in writing that she chose not to comply with the guideline requiring visible ears, ensuring the record accurately reflected the circumstances. “She obliged and was successfully captured, albeit after considerable time and effort,” JAMB stated.
The board reiterated that hijab removal is not mandatory for UTME registration. “For clarity, candidates are not required to remove their hijab. The simple requirement is that the ears be visible during photo capture, which can be achieved without removing the hijab. This is a standard biometric procedure, similar to what is obtained during passport or visa applications at embassies worldwide,” JAMB said.
JAMB called on the public to verify facts before circulating potentially misleading information. “Mutual understanding will enable the Board to serve every candidate more effectively and fairly. We remain committed to respecting the rights and beliefs of all candidates, irrespective of religion or background,” the board concluded.
Leave a Comment