By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc Sonny Echono, has called on Nigerians to prioritise national interest over personal gain, citing the life of Professor Emeritus Is-haq Oloyede as a model of integrity and public service.
Echono made the call in Ilorin while chairing the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Homecoming Celebration and Investiture Ceremony for Awards of Excellence, Distinguished Alumni and Unilorin Ambassadors.
The event marked Oloyede’s homecoming and honoured 30 other Nigerians for their contributions to education, national development and the university’s growth.
Describing Prof. Oloyede as someone who had spent his adult life exemplifying hard work, courage, compassion and dedication, Echono said the country needed more citizens willing to embody these values.
“We don’t tend to celebrate the right people enough. Our celebrations are often full of funerals, birthdays and burials,” he said. “But when you celebrate individuals, you give them the impetus to do more. More importantly, you encourage others to emulate them so that they too can be celebrated.”
He argued that honouring achievers while they are alive remains one of the most effective ways to sustain excellence in society.
Echono singled out Oloyede’s tenure as Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), where he confronted entrenched examination malpractice networks. Working alongside security agencies, Oloyede helped dismantle cartels operating across the country — a fight Echono described as dangerous, given the power and threats wielded by those involved.
He recalled taking part in operations to investigate the networks, including interviews with suspects arrested nationwide, which yielded information that helped clean up the examination system.
The TETFund boss also praised Oloyede’s advocacy for persons with disabilities, noting that JAMB under his leadership expanded beyond providing facilities for candidates with hearing and visual impairments to supporting organisations preparing such candidates for tertiary education.
“Today in our universities, I understand JAMB even instituted an award for institutions who admit students with disabilities. Nigeria will remain grateful to you, sir,” he said.
Also, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Wahab Egbewole, described Oloyede as a distinguished product of the institution whose academic, administrative and leadership contributions had brought honour to UNILORIN. He said the newly established professorial chair in Oloyede’s name was a fitting tribute to his legacy.
Prof. Egbewole appealed to stakeholders and guests to support the N250 million endowment fund, calling Oloyede a disciplined and courageous “uncommon Better by Far Ambassador.”
He also urged the ceremony’s honourees to reciprocate by supporting development projects at the university — challenging Award of Excellence recipients to identify projects they could fund, distinguished alumni to jointly sponsor initiatives bearing their names, and Unilorin Ambassadors to back a collective project, with hopes of completion before the next edition of the ceremony.
