Alausa, Obaji lead tributes as Oloyede takes a bow from JAMB after landmark tenure
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The education community on Friday night honoured the immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, as he formally ended his 10-year tenure marked by far-reaching reforms that transformed the examination body into one of Nigeria’s most transparent and accountable public institutions.
The reception, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel shortly after Oloyede handed over to his successor, Professor Segun Aina, attracted top government officials, education administrators, vice chancellors, lawmakers, JAMB management and staff, family members and friends.
Among the dignitaries were the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad; former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji; Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono; and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN).
Leading the tributes, Alausa described Oloyede’s tenure as “nothing short of transformational,” saying his leadership repositioned JAMB through accountability, transparency, innovation and efficient service delivery. He noted that Oloyede restored public confidence in the nation’s tertiary admissions system and demonstrated that public institutions could be efficient, technology-driven and citizen-focused when led with integrity.
Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad said Oloyede’s administration would be remembered as a defining era in Nigeria’s admissions process, praising his deployment of technology to curb examination malpractice, improve service delivery and strengthen institutional credibility.
She described JAMB under his leadership as one of Africa’s most credible technology-driven examination bodies.
Former education minister, Professor Chinwe Obaji, hailed Oloyede as a transformational leader whose courage and reforms restored public trust in JAMB, while Professor Egbewole described him as an uncommon Nigerian who left enduring legacies at both the University of Ilorin and JAMB.
Speakers unanimously agreed that Oloyede leaves behind a stronger and more credible institution than he inherited in 2016. They particularly highlighted his financial discipline, noting that while previous administrations reportedly remitted about N50 million to the Federal Government over nearly four decades, Oloyede returned more than N7 billion in a single year and over N50 billion during his decade-long stewardship.
They also praised his sweeping reforms, which fundamentally reshaped Nigeria’s admissions system by promoting transparency, accountability and merit.