JAMB Says Hijabs Not Banned After Viral ABUAD Registration Video

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during registration, following a viral video that raised concerns about alleged discrimination against Muslim students at Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).

In the video shared by social media user AsakyGRN, a man claimed his sister was told to remove her hijab before being photographed. He said, “I followed my sister to the JAMB centre to collect her form. She was told to remove her hijab before she could be captured. After the capturing, they asked her to sign an undertaking for wearing a hijab. Are Muslims now being discriminated against for wearing hijabs?”

Responding via its verified account on Saturday, JAMB emphasised that it has never issued any directive prohibiting female candidates from wearing the hijab.

The board, however, explained that the procedure followed at ABUAD was a standard biometric requirement.

“When his sister presented herself for registration, she was informed of the Board’s standard guideline, which is a global practice in biometric captures, similar to those for international passports and visas, where both ears must be visible,” the statement said. “This requirement is purely technical and ensures proper facial recognition, and it does not necessitate removing the hijab.”

JAMB added that the candidate’s religious beliefs were respected. “She was requested to formally state in writing that she personally chose not to comply with the ear-visibility guideline, so the record would accurately reflect the circumstances. She obliged and was successfully captured, albeit after some time and effort,” the board said.

The board reiterated: “Candidates are not required to remove their hijab. The simple requirement is that the ears be visible during photo capture, which can be achieved without removing the hijab itself. This is a standard biometric procedure practiced worldwide.”

JAMB urged the public to avoid spreading misleading information and to seek clarification when in doubt. “Mutual understanding will enable the Board to serve every candidate effectively and fairly. We remain committed to respecting the rights and beliefs of all candidates, irrespective of religion or background,” it added.

Registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began on Monday, January 26, 2026, and will run until Saturday, February 28, 2026. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said e-PIN vending started on Monday, January 19, 2026, and will end on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

For Direct Entry (DE) candidates, sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will run from Monday, March 2, 2026, to Saturday, April 25, 2026, with registration available only at JAMB zonal and state offices. The Registrar assured that all measures are in place to ensure a smooth registration process nationwide.