• The Joint Admission Matriculation Board has blamed an ad hoc staff member for the hijab incident at an Ibadan CBT centre
• The incident happened during the UTME screening at Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre on April 16
• The board directed that no hijab-wearing candidate should be asked to remove or alter it and reaffirmed that candidates have the right to religious expression

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has blamed an ad hoc official for the incident involving candidates wearing hijabs at a Computer-Based Test centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to the board, the incident happened during the screening exercise for the first session of the examination on Thursday, April 16, at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre.

JAMB said it stepped in immediately after reports emerged that some hijab-wearing candidates were allegedly being delayed and asked to remove or adjust their head coverings before entering the examination venue.

In a statement issued on Thursday, April 16, by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, the board stressed that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or alter it.

“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 statement read.

JAMB maintained that it respects the religious beliefs of all candidates and does not support discrimination based on faith, appearance or mode of dressing.

“We assure all candidates, regardless of faith, that their rights to religious expression including dressing remain a cornerstone of our policy,” JAMB said.

The examination body also revealed that all ad hoc officials have been reminded of the approved screening procedures as the ongoing UTME continues across the country.

It added that candidates’ rights to religious expression, including the wearing of hijabs and other faith-based attire, remain protected under its policies.

The controversy erupted after a video surfaced online showing a female candidate being stopped during the ongoing UTME screening process and allegedly asked to remove her hijab before she could gain entry into the centre.

The incident sparked concerns on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether the action amounted to discrimination.

JAMB conducts its examinations nationwide through accredited CBT centres, where ad hoc officials are often assigned to supervise screening and examination activities.

Similar concerns have surfaced in the past over how dress codes and identity verification guidelines are interpreted at examination centres.

JAMB adjusts arrival time for 2026 UTME first session candidates

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had announced a minor adjustment to the arrival time for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly those scheduled for the first session.

According to JAMB, the examination will commence at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m., maintaining the same duration despite the revised arrival time.

The board said the adjustment followed concerns over early travel risks and logistical challenges faced by candidates and parents.