A concerning incident of religious discrimination was reported on Friday, 25th April 2025, at the PEFTI CBT Centre located on Coca-Cola Road, Sango area, Ibadan, Oyo State, during the conduct of the JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to verified information, a female Muslim candidate was denied entry into the examination hall due to her wearing of a scarf-type hijab. Security personnel at the centre insisted that only a “small cape” hijab was permitted and demanded that she either remove both her hijab and cap or forfeit the opportunity to write her exam. Despite her efforts to explain and plead, she was forced to comply by removing her religious covering.
This incident caused confusion and emotional distress among other candidates and guardians at the venue, with several Muslim candidates exchanging hijabs and scarves in a bid to meet the unofficial dress code being enforced by security officials.
There has been no indication from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) of any formal policy that restricts the type of hijab to be worn by candidates, provided proper identification is possible. The enforcement of such arbitrary restrictions raises serious concerns about religious rights, candidate welfare, and examination integrity.
We call on JAMB to:
- Investigate the incident at the PEFTI CBT Centre and provide a public statement.
- Clarify its official position on religious attire in line with the Nigerian Constitution.
- Ensure that future conduct of examinations respects candidates’ rights without compromising examination procedures.
- Implement training and monitoring measures for all CBT centre personnel to prevent similar occurrences.
Freedom of religion and expression are fundamental rights enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution. Such incidents undermine the principles of equity and inclusion in the education system and must be addressed with urgency.
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