The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that candidates are not required to remove their hijabs during registration, following concerns raised in a viral video alleging discrimination at Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).
In the video shared on social media, a man claimed his sister was asked to remove her hijab before being photographed at a JAMB centre and was later asked to sign an undertaking for wearing it.
Responding via its verified account, JAMB stated that it has never issued any directive prohibiting candidates from wearing the hijab.
The board explained that the issue at ABUAD related to a standard biometric requirement that both ears must be visible during photo capture — a guideline it described as a global practice for facial recognition purposes, similar to passport and visa applications.
According to JAMB, the requirement is purely technical and does not mandate removal of the hijab. Instead, candidates are only required to ensure their ears are visible during the biometric photograph.
The board said the candidate in question was asked to state in writing that she chose not to comply with the ear-visibility guideline so that proper records would reflect the circumstances. It added that she was eventually captured successfully.
Reiterating its position, JAMB urged the public to avoid spreading misleading information and to seek clarification when necessary, affirming its commitment to respecting the rights and beliefs of all candidates.
JAMB also noted that registration for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) began on January 26, 2026, and will run until February 28, 2026. Registrar Is-haq Oloyede said e-PIN vending started on January 19 and will close on February 26, 2026.
For Direct Entry candidates, sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will begin on March 2 and end on April 25, 2026, with registration conducted exclusively at JAMB zonal and state offices nationwide.
