By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, has been celebrated by Nigeria’s education community following the end of his ten-year tenure, widely regarded as one of the most transformative periods in the history of the examination body.
The reception, held on Friday night shortly after Prof. Oloyede formally handed over to his successor, Prof. Segun Aina, brought together top government officials, education stakeholders, lawmakers, vice-chancellors, heads of tertiary institutions, members of the JAMB management and staff, as well as family 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 the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono; and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN).
Leading the tributes, Dr. Alausa described Oloyede’s stewardship as “nothing short of transformational,” noting that his leadership repositioned JAMB into one of Nigeria’s most transparent, accountable and efficient public institutions.
The minister said Prof. Oloyede’s commitment to integrity, innovation and excellence significantly strengthened the credibility of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process and restored public confidence in the Board through reforms anchored on transparency and accountability.
He also commended the former registrar’s prudent financial management, describing him as a model of ethical leadership whose insistence on due process turned JAMB into a benchmark for good governance.
According to the minister, Oloyede demonstrated that public institutions can deliver efficient, technology-driven and citizen-focused services when led with integrity and vision.
In her part, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described Oloyede’s administration as a defining era in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system, praising his strategic deployment of technology to enhance transparency, curb examination malpractice and improve service delivery.
She noted that under his leadership, JAMB evolved into one of Africa’s most credible and technologically advanced examination bodies, setting new standards in public sector administration.
Also, former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji, said Oloyede distinguished himself as a transformational leader whose courage, discipline and reforms restored public trust in JAMB while elevating the institution’s global reputation.
Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), described Oloyede as an exceptional Nigerian whose contributions to both the University of Ilorin and JAMB would remain enduring.
He recalled Oloyede’s achievements as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, where he spearheaded major institutional reforms, and said he later replicated the same vision at JAMB by strengthening the integrity of the admissions process and demonstrating that honesty and patriotism remain essential ingredients of effective public service.
Speakers at the event unanimously agreed that Prof. Oloyede leaves behind a stronger, more credible and technology-driven institution than he inherited in 2016.
They particularly highlighted his record in financial accountability. While previous administrations reportedly remitted about ₦50 million to the Federal Government over nearly four decades, Oloyede remitted more than ₦7 billion in a single year and over ₦50 billion throughout his ten-year tenure.
Beyond the financial milestones, stakeholders noted that his sweeping reforms fundamentally reshaped Nigeria’s admissions system by promoting transparency, institutional efficiency and public confidence, leaving a legacy that will influence higher education administration for years to come.
