JAMB, on Sunday, disclosed that it had taken disciplinary action against officials who instructed a Muslim candidate to remove her hijab.
The incident occurred during the accreditation process at the Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, Ejigbo, Lagos, where the female candidate was preparing to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
In a statement signed by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Head of Public Affairs, JAMB expressed regret over the incident, noting that it was not in line with the board’s guidelines but a result of misinterpreted priorities by some accredited partners.
JAMB clarified that its accreditation guidelines mandate the screening of all candidates, with female officials specifically tasked to screen female candidates wearing hijabs before they enter the examination hall.
“While a senior board official swiftly resolved the issue, the involved officials have been sanctioned to deter any future occurrences of similar nature,” JAMB stated.
The board reiterated that it does not prohibit candidates from wearing religious attire, emphasizing that this is a common aspect of Nigerian life.
JAMB assured the public of its commitment to ensuring the fair selection of qualified candidates for admission into tertiary institutions, promising a thorough investigation to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, the 2024 UTME has been marred by technical difficulties, with over 1.2 million candidates expected to have completed the examination by Monday, April 22, 2024.
