The Oyo State High Court has officially declared that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board cannot mandate female candidates to take off their hijabs during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Justice Y.S. Adekunle ruled that this practice is unconstitutional and illegal, violating the freedom of religion protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
This legal victory follows a lawsuit filed by Lawal Hameedat Adenike Olamide, represented by her mother, Basirat Ojo-Oba. The student was previously denied access to her exam at a PEFTI Film Institute centre unless she complied with the removal policy. The court found both JAMB and the PEFTI Film Institute responsible for infringing upon her fundamental rights.
In response to the violation, the court ordered both parties to issue formal, written apologies to the student and publish them in two national newspapers within a week. Furthermore, the court awarded the claimant N10 million in damages and N500,000 for legal expenses. The ruling, delivered on July 20, 2026, aligns with recent appellate court precedents regarding religious freedom in examination settings.
