The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has
clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during
registration.
The board made the clarification following a video that
raised concerns about alleged discrimination against Muslim candidates at the
Afe Babalola University.
In a video shared by social media user AsakyGRN, a man
lamented that his sister was told to remove her hijab before being photographed
for the exam registration.
“I followed my sister to the JAMB centre to collect her
form. She was told to remove her hijab before she could be captured,” the man
said.
“After the capturing, they asked her to sign an undertaking
for wearing a hijab. Are Muslims now being discriminated against for wearing
hijabs?”
In a statement on Saturday via its X account, JAMB said it
has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab.
The board noted that it is a standard practice globally that
during biometric photo capture for both an international passport and a visa,
both ears must be visible.
“This requirement is purely technical and is intended to
ensure that proper facial recognition and identification do not require the
candidate to remove her hijab,” the board said.
Shedding more light on the ABUAD incident, JAMB added that
the candidate’s religious position was respected.
“She was requested to formally state in writing that she
personally chose not to comply with the guideline regarding ear visibility, so
that the record would accurately reflect the circumstances and prevent future
misrepresentation,” the board said.
“She obliged and was successfully captured, albeit after
considerable time and effort.
“For clarity, candidates are not required to remove their
hijab. The simple requirement is that the ears be visible during photo capture,
which can be done without removing the hijab itself.
“This is a standard biometric procedure, similar to what is
obtained during passport or visa applications at embassies worldwide.”
The board urged the public to avoid spreading misleading
accounts and to seek clarification where necessary.
It further reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the
rights and beliefs of all candidates, irrespective of religion or background.
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