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Events / JAMB Clarifies Hijab Policy for Registration
Regulatory clarification of policy

JAMB Clarifies Hijab Policy for Registration

Analysis based on 8 articles · First reported Feb 21, 2026 · Last updated Feb 22, 2026

Sentiment
10
Attention
1
Articles
8
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the NewsDesk Dashboard
Market Impact

This event has minimal direct market impact as it primarily concerns educational policy and religious accommodation within Nigeria's examination system. It may indirectly affect public perception of the Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and Afe Babalola University, but not in a financially significant way.

Education Government
Event Summary

The Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) issued a clarification regarding its policy on hijab wearing during candidate registration, following a viral video alleging discrimination at Afe Babalola University. JAMB stated that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs, but a standard biometric requirement necessitates that both ears be visible during photo capture for proper facial recognition, similar to international passport and visa applications. The board emphasized that this technical requirement does not mandate hijab removal and that the candidate in the video was asked to formally state her choice not to comply with the ear visibility guideline, after which she was successfully captured. JAMB urged the public to avoid spreading misleading information and reaffirmed its commitment to respecting all candidates' rights and beliefs. The board also provided registration dates for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry.

Key Actions
100 Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board clarified policy on hijab wearing during registration
50 Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board announced registration dates for UTME and Direct Entry
Entities Involved
govactor
Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
The Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board clarified its policy regarding hijab wearing during registration, stating that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs but must ensure their ears are visible for biometric capture. This clarification aims to address concerns about alleged discrimination and maintain public trust.
Importance 100 Sentiment 20
priv
Afe Babalola University
Afe Babalola University was the location where the alleged discrimination incident occurred, leading to the Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board's clarification. The university's role in the event was as a registration center where a candidate was reportedly asked to remove her hijab.
Importance 60 Sentiment 0
per
Is-haq Oloyede
Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, provided details on the registration timelines for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry, assuring a smooth process.
Importance 20 Sentiment 0
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