Fact Check: Did Covenant University Bar Muslim Students In Hijab From Mock Exam?

Summary:

• Viral video claimed Muslim students in hijab were denied entry to take JAMB mock exams at Covenant University’s CBT Center.
• Investigation revealed the students were initially delayed due to security concerns, but were ultimately allowed to write the exams.
• The security officer responsible for the delay was fired, and the claim is rated as “Mostly False.”

Claim: “Muslim students were denied and prevented from writing JAMB mock examinations at Covenant University CBT Center, Ota, over their use of hijab.“

A recent video that went viral on social media has caused a lot of controversy. It says that Muslim students wearing hijabs were not allowed to take mock JAMB exams at the Computer-Based Test (CBT) Center at Covenant University in Ota.

The video gained traction after Sahara Reporters shared it with the headline, “VIDEO: How Bishop Oyedepo’s Covenant University Delayed Muslim Candidates in Hijab From Taking a Mock Tertiary Matriculation Exam.”

We investigated the claim to determine its accuracy.

Were the students in hijab denied entry to the exam center?

According to the information obtained by MandyNews.com from a person who said they were a member of the church, they had a different view of what happened on that day. They stated, “This isn’t Covenant University; this is the church gate…and they will be delayed because of the security threats already faced by the church in present-day Nigeria.” This statement suggests that the incident may have been a security measure rather than discrimination against Muslim students wearing hijabs.

Were the students eventually allowed to write the exam?

MandyNews.com found out that the students were eventually allowed to take the test, and when the news got to the authorities, the security guard who had turned them away at first was fired the same day. This information indicates that the university took action to rectify the situation promptly.

What actions were taken by the university to address the incident?

We got in touch with Covenant University and the students involved in the incident to see if these claims were true. Even though the university hasn’t made an official statement yet, our investigation showed that after the initial delay, the students were indeed able to take the mock exams. The security officer who was to blame for the delay was reportedly fired because of what happened. 

Conclusion

While it is true that the Muslim students in hijab experienced a delay in taking their JAMB mock examinations at Covenant University’s CBT Center, the claim that they were outright denied and prevented from writing the exams is not accurate. The students were ultimately allowed to write the exams, and the responsible security officer was fired for their actions. Based on our investigation, we rate this claim as “Mostly False.”