The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a clarification on its biometric requirements for hijab wearing candidates following a viral video that sparked allegations of religious discrimination at a registration centre in Afe Babalola University.
The video, shared by social media user AsakyGRN, showed a man claiming that his sister had been asked to remove her hijab before being photographed at a JAMB centre. "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 capture, they asked her to sign an undertaking to wear a hijab. Are Muslims now being discriminated against for wearing hijabs?" he said.
Responding in a statement issued yesterday via its verified account, JAMB stated that it has never prohibited candidates from wearing hijabs during registration. "Thank you for your concern. However, it is important to state clearly that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, whether in the past or present, has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab," the board said.
JAMB explained that what occurred at ABUAD was a standard biometric requirement applied globally. "When his sister presented herself for registration, she was informed of the Board's standard guideline, which is a global practice in capturing candidates for both an international passport and a visa, which requires that both ears must be visible during biometric photo capture," the statement read.
The board clarified that the requirement is technical, designed to ensure proper facial recognition and identification, and does not mandate the removal of the hijab. JAMB added that the candidate's religious position was respected and that she was asked to formally state in writing that she personally chose not to comply with the guideline regarding ear visibility, to reflect the circumstances and prevent future misrepresentation accurately. "She obliged and was successfully captured, albeit after considerable time and effort," JAMB stated.
The board emphasised that candidates are not required to remove their hijab, noting that the ears can be made visible without removing the head covering. "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 achieved without removing the hijab. This is a standard biometric procedure, similar to what is obtained during passport or visa applications at embassies worldwide," JAMB said.
The board urged the public to avoid spreading misleading accounts and to seek clarification when necessary. "Mutual understanding will enable the Board to serve every candidate more effectively and fairly. We remain committed to respecting the rights and beliefs of all candidates, irrespective of religion or background," JAMB concluded.
