Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said its biometric verification rules, not religion were responsible for a viral dispute involving a candidate’s hijab during registration for Nigeria’s main university entrance examination.
The board, which conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for millions of candidates each year, explained that requests for candidates to slightly adjust their hijabs or other head coverings are strictly technical requirements tied to biometric photo capture.
The clarification follows a viral video alleging that a candidate at a registration centre at Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, was asked to remove her hijab before her photograph could be taken. According to the claims circulating online, the candidate was also asked to state in writing that she declined to fully comply with guidelines requiring her ears to be visible.
In a statement issued on Saturday, JAMB said its registration process aligns with global biometric standards similar to those used for passports and visa applications, where certain facial features including the ears must be visible to ensure accurate facial recognition.
The board stressed that the requirement is purely technical and not a restriction on religious expression. It maintained that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs, but may be asked to adjust them slightly to meet biometric capture standards.
The episode underscores the delicate balance involved in implementing identity verification systems in a country as religiously and culturally diverse as Nigeria. In such an environment, inconsistent enforcement or unclear communication can quickly escalate into public controversy.
JAMB also recalled that in 2024 it clarified that it has no policy prohibiting candidates from wearing religious attire, following a similar debate involving a hijab-wearing candidate.