The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called the attention of the public to a situation it considered troubling during the ongoing UTME.
The examination body said that a candidate who arrived at one of the CBT centres was not treated fairly because she wore a hijab.
Taking to a statement on behalf of the management, Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communication Advisor expressed regrets over the incident and reassured members of the public that the incident has been addressed.
The statement:
“The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to an incident at the Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre in Ibadan.
“Through its monitoring mechanisms, the Board observed the occurrence during the screening exercise for the first session of the examination day on Thursday, 16th.
“The Board promptly intervened by calling the ad hoc official involved to order and issuing immediate instructions that no candidate wearing a hijab should be asked to remove or alter it.
“The Board wishes to state clearly that this act was neither perpetrated by the centre nor part of its official protocol. Rather, it was the action of an overzealous ad hoc staff member who failed to adhere to the Board’s established guidelines regarding candidates’ religious attire.
“JAMB categorically affirms that such actions are not in line with its screening procedures. The Board respects the religious beliefs and customs of all Nigerians and has addressed the situation promptly and appropriately.
“We assure all candidates, regardless of faith, that their rights to religious expression including dressing remain a cornerstone of our policy.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all ad hoc staff have been further briefed and reminded of the approved procedures for screening candidates at all centres
Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D OrgExpert and PCA JAMB
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