Nigeria’s college admissions physique has mentioned its biometric guidelines—not faith—are behind a viral dispute over a candidate’s hijab throughout registration for the nation’s most vital entrance examination into tertiary establishments.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which administers the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for thousands and thousands of candidates yearly, mentioned requests for candidates to regulate their hijabs or different head coverings throughout registration are strictly a technical requirement for biometric picture seize, not a non secular restriction.
This clarification follows a viral social media video, alleging {that a} candidate at a JAMB registration centre on the Afe Babalola College, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Southern Nigeria, was requested to take away her hijab earlier than her {photograph} could possibly be taken to finish her registration.
In response to the declare, the candidate was additionally requested to substantiate in writing that she declined to completely adjust to the ear-visibility guideline.
The episode highlights the strain with implementing biometric id methods in a deeply cultural and religeous clime like Nigeria, the place inconsistent enforcement or weak communication can shortly spark controversy.
In a press release on Saturday, JAMB mentioned its registration course of aligns with international biometric requirements used for passports and visas, which require sure facial options—together with the ears—to be seen to make sure correct facial recognition.
“This requirement is only technical and is meant to make sure that correct facial recognition and identification don’t require the candidate to take away her hijab,” the examination physique mentioned.
JAMB mentioned candidates aren’t required to take away their hijabs, and that the rule of thumb exists solely to fulfill the technical calls for of biometric registration.
In 2024, the examination physique mentioned it had no coverage prohibiting candidates from sporting non secular apparel, following an identical controversy involving a hijab-wearing candidate.
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