An allegation that a female candidate was compelled to remove her hijab before sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has triggered reactions online.
The claim surfaced after a video shared on X by a user identified as Alfa Shehu, reportedly filmed at Esther Oshikoya Computer-Based Test Centre along Sango-Eleyele Road, showed a candidate taking off her hijab before entering the exam venue.
While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, the user alleged that candidates wearing hijabs were being asked to remove them before gaining access to the examination hall.
“This is a direct violation of the candidates’ constitutional right to freedom of religion and JAMB’s own guidelines that permit hijab during examinations,” he wrote.
The allegation has not been independently confirmed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board had yet to release an official statement addressing the situation.
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However, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Akinyele Area Council, also raised concerns, claiming that a security operative at the centre initially denied a candidate entry for wearing a hijab.
According to the group, the matter has since been addressed, with affected candidates allowed to sit for the examination after intervention by authorities.
“The situation at Esther Oshikoya CBT Centre is now under control. Officials from JAMB have arrived at the centre and have taken over the matter,” the statement read.
The UTME began nationwide on Thursday, with more than two million candidates expected to participate in the examination exercise.