It is becoming an increasingly alarming and disturbing trend in Nigeria during the conduct of national examinations such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the National Examinations Council (NECO). Some examination centres have allegedly and unlawfully denied Muslim female students the opportunity to sit for their exams because of the hijab they wear.
In some cases, this denial comes either from officials at the examination centres or from security personnel responsible for monitoring activities during the examinations. This situation raises serious concerns about students’ rights and freedom of religious expression. These examination bodies have a crucial role to play in bringing a permanent end to this crisis.
These incidents of denying students to write exams because of observing what their religion taught them are the violations of Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and the right to practice any religion.
Truthfully, this year is not the only time Muslim female students have faced denial or rejection from writing their examinations, especially JAMB. It has happened and occurred several times; it is, however, important to end it. Last year, on April 25, 2025, at Petti CBT Centre in Ibadan, Oyo state, a student named Lawal Hameedat Adenike faced this religious harassment, where the centre forced her to remove her hijab or not be allowed to sit for the examination. Though her biological mother, Basirat Ojo, took legal action regarding the illegal treatment and violation of constitutional rights granted to all citizens in the country, still this year the case has happened again.
Similarly, on April 21, 2024, at a CBT centre named Bafuto Institute, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, Ejigbo, Lagos, it was reported by Muslim News of Sunday, 21st April 2024, that female students were denied or asked to remove their hijab and headwear before entering the examination hall. One may not wonder to ask under which guidelines or laws these institutions are operating and denying students their constitutional right.
Although JAMB was bold enough last year to respond quickly by sanctioning the staff engaged in religious harassment, unfortunately, after all this experience, again, two centres were found maltreating students this year as it’s repeatedly happened. When will the examinations bodies bring an end to this Hijab crisis?
Importantly, the bodies responsible for these examinations should act beyond offering apologies and sanctions. They should come up with new policies regarding the hijab issue and make them known to all examination centres across the country. This will go a long way in addressing or permanently mitigating these concerns. Without a doubt, these examination bodies have a great role to play through the following ways:
Dress Code for Examinations Nationwide: just as universities have a standard and acceptable dress code that every student must adhere to and observe, such a dress code nationwide will ensure inclusivity and diversity and protect all students across the nation—not only Muslims, but also Christians, those with no religion, and traditional worshippers.
While some private schools, particularly during National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations, might have their own dress codes, these guidelines during examinations should serve as general standards for every student and examination centre to follow, allowing students to write their exams based on the stipulated and adopted dress code by the examination bodies when decided.
However, it is commendable that this year the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, visited the centre where a student was denied the opportunity to write her JAMB examination. But the actions should go beyond mere visitations and asking that the student be allowed to write the exam. I urge the registrar to use his offices and the authority bestowed on him to come up with a new policy in the JAMB guidelines and make it available in the media and to all centres across the nation, one that will not leave room for such harassment to occur.
Allowing it to continue is not a solution, since it has happened multiple times, but ending it permanently will bring hope to all Nigerian students irrespective of their religion.
It is imperative for all examination centres to note that a school is a place of learning that highly demands diversity for its growth. All these examination bodies like JAMB, NECO, and WAEC belong to all Nigerian students, and embracing and tolerating one another’s beliefs is what brings sustainable peace and unity, making the environment safe and inclusive for all. Since this issue has repeatedly occurred, taking action to mitigate it permanently at the early stage is the responsibility of the examination bodies and not those who established private examination centres because whether private or government-established, all centres are answerable to these bodies’ rules and regulations.
Respectfully, God created us to live together, and embracing our differences is what makes a society civilised and progressive. Neglecting such differences may not bring positive results. Nigeria has gained independence for more than 60 years, yet we are still discussing cultural differences as a problem.