JAMB Clarifies Position on Hijab Use During Registration

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has stated that female candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during registration, contrary to concerns raised in a viral video.

In a statement issued on Saturday via its official handle, the board responded to a video posted by a user, AsakyGRN, in which a man alleged that his sister was made to remove her hijab before being photographed at a registration centre affiliated with Afe Babalola University.

According to the post, the candidate was also asked to sign an undertaking for wearing the hijab after the capture, prompting questions of religious discrimination.

However, JAMB clarified that it had never issued any directive prohibiting the wearing of the hijab and explained that the procedure in question was based on a standard biometric guideline.

“When his sister presented herself for registration, she was informed of the Board’s standard guideline, which is a global practice in capturing candidates for both an international passport and a visa, which requires that both ears must be visible during biometric photo capture,” the statement read.

The board emphasised that the requirement is technical and not religious, adding that it does not mandate the removal of the hijab, only that the ears be visible something that can be done without taking off the head covering.

JAMB further explained that the candidate was asked to sign an undertaking only to document her decision not to comply with the ear visibility guideline, adding that this was done to ensure transparency and avoid future misrepresentation.

“She obliged and was successfully captured, albeit after considerable time and effort,” the board noted.

It urged the public to avoid spreading misleading narratives and to seek clarification when necessary, reaffirming its commitment to respecting the religious beliefs of all candidates.

Registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination began on January 26 and will run until February 28. The sale of e-PINs commenced on January 19 and ends on February 26.

Direct Entry registration is scheduled to begin on March 2 and close on April 25, with JAMB advising candidates to adhere to the guidelines for a seamless process.