The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken disciplinary action against accredited officials who prevented a hijab-wearing female candidate from entering the examination hall during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement released by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, the examination body clarified that there is no policy prohibiting candidates from wearing religious items such as hijabs.
The statement was issued in response to reports on various news platforms concerning an incident titled ‘Re: Lagos Centre Stops Hijab-Wearing Candidates as UTME Commences.’ According to JAMB, the situation was promptly resolved, and the affected candidate was allowed to participate in the UTME while wearing her hijab.
JAMB condemned the actions of the officials involved, attributing their behavior to ignorance. The board emphasized that ignorance of the law does not excuse misconduct and reiterated its commitment to upholding fairness and inclusivity in its examination processes.
Furthermore, JAMB disclosed that approximately 1.2 million candidates were expected to sit for the 2024 UTME by Monday, April 22.
