The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has stated that candidates registering for its examinations are not required to remove their hijabs, following concerns raised online over an alleged incident at Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).
The clarification came after a video circulated on social media in which a user claimed his sister was instructed to remove her hijab before her biometric photograph could be taken at a JAMB registration centre. The man alleged that after the photo capture, she was also asked to sign an undertaking regarding her decision to wear the hijab, raising fears of possible discrimination against Muslim candidates.
Responding through a statement shared on its verified social media handle on Saturday, JAMB dismissed claims of any directive banning the hijab.
“Thank you for your concern. However, it is important to state clearly that the Board, whether in the past or present, has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab,” the examination body said.
JAMB explained that the issue stemmed from a standard biometric guideline requiring candidates’ ears to be visible during photo capture — a practice it described as a global requirement for identification documents such as international passports and visas.
According to the Board, the guideline is strictly technical and aimed at ensuring accurate facial recognition. It stressed that candidates do not need to remove their hijabs to meet this requirement.
“When the candidate presented herself for registration, she was informed of the Board’s standard guideline that both ears must be visible during biometric photo capture. This does not require the removal of the hijab,” the statement noted.
JAMB further clarified that the candidate was only asked to put in writing her personal decision not to comply with the ear-visibility guideline, to ensure proper documentation and prevent future misrepresentation. The Board said she was eventually registered successfully, though the process took additional time.
Reaffirming its position, JAMB said, “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 itself.”
The Board urged the public to refrain from spreading misleading information and encouraged those with concerns to seek clarification directly. It reiterated its commitment to respecting the religious beliefs and rights of all candidates, regardless of background.
Registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination began on January 26 and will close on February 28, 2026. E-PIN vending commenced on January 19 and is scheduled to end on February 26.
For Direct Entry candidates, the sale of application documents and e-PINs will begin on March 2 and close on April 25, 2026, with registration to be conducted exclusively at JAMB’s zonal and state offices.
The Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, assured prospective candidates that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth and transparent registration process nationwide.
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