JAMB Condemns Hijab Discrimination in UTME

The Nigeria===Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) addressed an incident at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria, where a hijab-wearing candidate was allegedly compelled to remove her religious attire before being allowed to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. JAMB, through its Public Communication Adviser Fabian Benjamin, condemned the action, stating it was unauthorized and contrary to its official guidelines. The board attributed the incident to an 'overzealous ad hoc staff member' and clarified that neither the CBT centre nor JAMB sanctioned such a directive. JAMB intervened promptly, instructing that no candidate should be asked to remove or alter their hijab, and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting candidates' rights to religious expression. The Nigeria===Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was also implicated, with an officer allegedly denying access. The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria confirmed the development.