Outcry as alleged hijab restriction surfaces at Ibadan UTME centre

By Adejayan Gbenga, Ibadan

An alleged incident involving a female candidate being asked to remove her hijab before sitting for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has stirred reactions among members of the public.

The development followed the circulation of a video on social media, reportedly recorded at the Esther Oshikoya Computer-Based Test Centre along Sango-Eleyele Road in Ibadan. In the video, a female candidate was seen removing her hijab before entering the examination premises, though the specific reason for the action remains uncertain.

The footage was shared by a social media user identified as Alfa Shehu, who claimed that candidates wearing hijabs were instructed to remove them before gaining access to the examination hall. He described the alleged directive as a violation of the candidates’ constitutional right to freedom of religion, as well as established examination guidelines that permit the wearing of hijabs.

However, the claim has not been independently verified, and authorities had yet to release an official statement confirming the incident at the time of the report.

Similarly, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Akinyele Area Council, stated that a security personnel at the centre initially denied entry to a candidate wearing a hijab.

According to the group, the officer involved was later questioned, and the affected candidates were subsequently allowed to sit for the examination.

Although officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) were said to have arrived at the centre to take control of the situation, however, as at the time of filing this report, JAMB is yet to issue a statement on the incident.

Western Post had earlier reported that the 2026 UTME commenced nationwide on Thursday, with more than two million candidates expected to participate in the examination.