JAMB Disowns Ibadan Hijab Incident, Sanctions Official

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has distanced itself from an alleged hijab discrimination incident at Esther Oshikoya Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre in Ibadan, clarifying that the action does not reflect its official examination guidelines.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, said the board became aware of the situation through its monitoring systems during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to him, the board acted swiftly after detecting the development, immediately intervening and cautioning the ad hoc official responsible for the directive.

Benjamin explained that JAMB expressly instructed that no candidate wearing a hijab should be forced to remove or adjust it as a condition for participating in the examination screening process.

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He stressed that the incident was neither initiated by the CBT centre nor approved by the examination body, attributing the development to an overzealous staff member who failed to adhere to established guidelines.

“The board wishes to make it clear that this action was not part of its protocol. It was the result of a misjudgment by an ad hoc official who acted outside the rules,” he said.

The spokesperson reiterated JAMB’s commitment to respecting the religious and cultural rights of all candidates, noting that its policies are designed to ensure inclusivity and fairness during examinations.

He further assured that the matter had been promptly addressed to prevent a recurrence, adding that all officials involved in the UTME exercise are expected to strictly comply with the board’s operational standards.

The clarification comes amid concerns raised over the treatment of candidates during the nationwide examination, with JAMB emphasizing that it remains vigilant in monitoring activities across centres to uphold integrity and protect candidates’ rights.