The farewell reception for the immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, turned into a rare gathering of Nigeria’s education elite at the weekend, as serving and former ministers, political leaders across party lines, heads of tertiary institutions converged in Abuja to honour the public servant widely credited with transforming the country’s admissions system.

 

 

The reception, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel shortly after Oloyede formally handed over the leadership of JAMB to his successor, Professor Segun Aina, attracted the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad; immediate past Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Nigeria’s first female Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji; Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole, SAN; Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi; members of the National Assembly, heads of education agencies, JAMB management and staff, family members and friends.

 

 

Others are V-C Baze University Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Registrar, National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi; Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu; Director General, Nigerian Law School, Dr. Olugbemisola Odusote; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Yusuf Ali, SAN and a host of others.

 

 

 

The calibre of dignitaries reflected the broad consensus that Oloyede’s decade-long stewardship of JAMB extended beyond conducting entrance examinations to redefining public sector governance through technology, transparency and accountability.

 

 

Leading the tributes, Dr. Alausa described Oloyede as an exceptional reformer whose decade-long stewardship transformed JAMB into one of Nigeria’s most transparent and accountable public institutions.

 

 

Alausa said Oloyede redefined what was possible in public service by combining integrity with innovation, insisting that his administration of JAMB had become a reference point for transparency, fiscal discipline and institutional efficiency. He noted that under Oloyede’s leadership, the Board not only improved the credibility of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but also embraced technology to enhance service delivery, eliminate malpractice and strengthen public confidence in the admissions process.

 

 

The minister said Oloyede’s achievements extended beyond JAMB, describing him as a national asset whose commitment to accountability and excellence had inspired reforms across the education sector.

 

 

He urged other public institutions to emulate the values of honesty, discipline and selfless service that characterised Oloyede’s tenure, stressing that his legacy would continue to shape educational administration and public sector governance in Nigeria for years to come. The Minister also encouraged the new JAMB Registrar to draw on Oloyede’s wealth of experience by embracing him as a mentor, saying his guidance would be invaluable in sustaining the reforms and institutional gains recorded over the past decade.

 

 

 

Similarly, the Minister of State for Education, said his tenure marked a turning point in the administration of tertiary admissions in Nigeria, stressing that his innovative use of technology improved transparency, curbed examination malpractice and significantly boosted the credibility of the examination body.

 

 

She noted that Oloyede rebuilt public trust in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system by proving that public institutions could deliver efficient, transparent, technology-driven and citizen-centred services under principled leadership.

 

 

Former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji, also praised Oloyede as a transformational leader whose courage and character redefined public administration, while the V-C University of Ilorin, described him as an uncommon Nigerian whose reformist legacy at both Unilorin and JAMB would remain indelible.

 

 

Other speakers, including Prof. Obaji, Arc. Echono, Prof. Fawehinmi, senior lawyer Yusuf Ali, a longtime friend of Oloyede spanning more than five decades, joined in extolling the former JAMB registrar’s leadership, describing him as a transformative administrator whose reforms modernised the Board, improved operational efficiency and reinforced the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.

 

 

They unanimously agreed that Oloyede leaves behind a stronger, more transparent and technologically advanced JAMB than he inherited in 2016.

 

 

They also hailed his unwavering commitment to merit, transparency and institutional excellence, expressing confidence that his legacy of reform and principled leadership would continue to shape JAMB and the wider education sector long after his departure from office.

 

 

In his tribute, the new JAMB Registrar acknowledged the enormity of the task before him, admitting that he was stepping into a role shaped by an outstanding predecessor whose achievements had set an exceptionally high benchmark for leadership and public service.

 

 

Prof. Aina said Oloyede’s decade-long tenure had transformed JAMB into one of Nigeria’s most respected public institutions through innovation, transparency and accountability. He noted that the reforms introduced under the former Registrar had earned the confidence of government, stakeholders and the general public, making the responsibility of succeeding him both challenging and inspiring.

 

 

While describing the transition as a call to greater service, the new JAMB boss pledged to build on the strong institutional foundation laid by Oloyede rather than depart from it.

 

 

He assured stakeholders that the Board would remain committed to preserving the integrity of the admissions process, deepening ongoing reforms and sustaining the culture of excellence that had become synonymous with JAMB over the past decade.

 

 

The tributes were punctuated by applause, goodwill messages and reflections on Oloyede’s legacy of service, making the reception one of the most significant gatherings of education stakeholders in recent years.

 

 

As part of the celebration, Oloyede was presented with gifts and commemorative items by the JAMB management and staff, as well as TETFund and the NUC, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and lasting impact on the country’s tertiary education system.