JAMB Clarifies Hijab Incident at Ibadan CBT Centre, Reaffirms Respect for Religious Rights

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been notified of an incident that occurred at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan.

According to its monitoring systems, the Board observed the situation during the screening process for the first session of the examination day on Thursday, 16th. In response, JAMB immediately stepped in by cautioning the ad hoc official involved and issuing clear directives that no candidate wearing a hijab should be required to remove or modify it.
The Board clarified that the action was not carried out by the centre itself nor was it part of its official procedures. Instead, it resulted from the conduct of an overzealous ad hoc staff member who did not comply with JAMB’s established guidelines on candidates’ religious dressing.
JAMB emphasized that such behavior is inconsistent with its screening protocols. It reiterated its respect for the religious beliefs and practices of all Nigerians, noting that the matter has been handled swiftly and appropriately.
The Board further assured all candidates, irrespective of their faith, that their right to religious expression, including their mode of dressing, remains a fundamental part of its policy.
To prevent a recurrence, all ad hoc staff have been re-briefed and reminded of the approved screening procedures across all examination centres.
Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D
OrgExpert and PCA, JAMB