JAMB Provides Further Clarification on Lagos Hijab Incident

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) clarified on Wednesday that the female candidate who was asked to remove her hijab before her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Lagos did not lose any time from her scheduled exam slot.

Previously, the candidate, who took the exam at the Bafuto Institute in Ejigbo, Lagos, was reportedly instructed by JAMB officials to remove her headcover during the accreditation process before entering the exam hall.

Although there were claims that the candidate was delayed for 30 minutes, prompting calls for compensation, JAMB dismissed this as an inaccurate portrayal. In a statement by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the board described the report as misleading and aimed at escalating an already-resolved issue.

JAMB assured that the incident had been thoroughly investigated, confirming that the candidate’s examination time was unaffected. The board emphasized that the examination reflects a candidate’s performance, and the candidate in question was not deprived of any rights or privileges.

The statement clarified that the brief delay in the candidate’s entrance into the examination venue occurred during the biometric verification process, which did not impact her overall examination schedule.

Furthermore, JAMB highlighted that its examination officials promptly addressed the situation, ensuring that the candidate underwent all necessary processes in preparation for her examination within the allocated time frame.