‘Misleading Narrative’ — JAMB Clears Air On Hijab Controversy

• The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board said it has taken disciplinary action against some of its officials.
• Benjamin reiterated that JAMB has no policy prohibiting candidates from wearing religious attire specific to their faith.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has disowned reports that a female candidate who was asked to remove her hijab before sitting for her examination in Lagos lost some minutes out of her scheduled time.

On April 21, the officials insisted that the candidate remove her hijab before being granted access to the examination hall.

The candidate sat for the examination at the Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, Ejigbo in Lagos.

There are reports that the lady was not allowed into the examination hall until 30 minutes into the exercise, triggering calls for compensation.

In a statement on Wednesday by JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, described the report as an error, saying it was a “misleading narrative aimed at inflaming passion and exacerbating an already-settled issue.”

“It is worthy of note that the incident had been thoroughly investigated by the Board and we could, therefore, state categorically that the candidate’s time was not affected in any way,” the statement reads in part.

“The Board perceives examination as a reflection of a candidate’s performance, especially when such a candidate is not deprived of any privilege or right.

“Therefore, the little drama associated with the entrance of Ms. Tiamiyu Ayisat Morenikeji into the examination venue has no effect on her time, space or anything related to her schedule as it happened within the time allotted to the biometric verification of candidates earmarked for a particular session and had, therefore, not even gained ingress into her final destination, the examination hall.

“It is on record that the Board’s examination officials comprising the team centre officials, the supervisor, technical staff, biometric verification officer and other officials, acted promptly to address the situation and the candidate was allowed to undergo other necessary processes preparatory to taking her examination in good time”.