Alausa, Obaji Lead Tributes as Oloyede Bows Out After a Decade of Transforming JAMB By Beauty Akporido Aroh
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s education community on Friday night paid glowing tribute to the immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, as he formally concluded a decade-long tenure widely regarded as one of the most transformative in the history of the examination body.
The valedictory reception, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel shortly after Oloyede handed over the leadership of JAMB to his successor, Professor Segun Aina, attracted an impressive gathering of government officials, education stakeholders, academics and public servants who celebrated his legacy of institutional reform, transparency and accountability.
Among those in attendance were the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa; the 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; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN); members of the National Assembly, vice-chancellors, heads of tertiary institutions, JAMB management and staff, family members and friends.
Leading the tributes, Alausa described Oloyede’s stewardship as “nothing short of transformational,” noting that his leadership repositioned JAMB into one of Nigeria’s most credible and respected public institutions through a culture of accountability, transparency, innovation and efficient service delivery.
> “It is with profound admiration and deep appreciation that I pay tribute to Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede as he concludes his distinguished tenure as Registrar of JAMB,” the minister said.
Alausa said his close working relationship with Oloyede gave him firsthand insight into the former registrar’s unwavering commitment to excellence, integrity, courage and visionary leadership.
According to him, Oloyede restored confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system by implementing far-reaching reforms anchored on transparency, accountability and technology, significantly enhancing the credibility of the admission process.
The minister also commended Oloyede’s prudent financial management, describing him as a model of incorruptibility whose insistence on due process and ethical governance transformed JAMB into a benchmark for public sector efficiency.
> “His tenure has demonstrated that public institutions can be efficient, transparent, technologically driven and citizen-focused when led by individuals of character and conviction,” Alausa added.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described Oloyede’s administration as a defining chapter in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.
She hailed him as an exceptional administrator, accomplished scholar and exemplary public servant whose decade in office was marked by integrity, discipline, innovation and an unwavering pursuit of excellence.
According to her, Oloyede’s strategic deployment of technology strengthened transparency, drastically reduced examination malpractice, improved service delivery and enhanced institutional credibility.
> “Under his visionary leadership, JAMB emerged as one of the most credible and technologically driven examination bodies in Africa,” she stated.
Former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji, equally described Oloyede as a transformational leader whose courage, integrity and foresight redefined public administration.
She said he restored public trust in JAMB, transforming the agency from a conventional examination body into a globally respected institution driven by technology, transparency and institutional reforms.
In his tribute, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), described Oloyede as an uncommon Nigerian whose enduring contributions to both the University of Ilorin and JAMB would remain indelible.
Egbewole recalled Oloyede’s remarkable achievements as Vice-Chancellor of the university, describing him as the architect of modern Unilorin who revolutionised infrastructure, expanded human capital development and strengthened institutional growth.
He noted that Oloyede later replicated the same reformist vision at JAMB by restoring integrity to the admissions process, rebuilding public confidence and demonstrating that honesty, discipline and patriotism remain powerful tools for effective public service.
Speakers at the event unanimously agreed that Oloyede leaves behind a stronger, more credible and technologically advanced JAMB than the one he inherited in 2016.
One of the defining hallmarks of his tenure, they noted, was his unprecedented record in financial accountability.
While previous administrations reportedly remitted about ₦50 million to the Federal Government over nearly four decades, Oloyede returned more than ₦7 billion in a single year and over ₦50 billion during his ten-year stewardship—an achievement widely cited as evidence of prudent management and institutional transparency.
Beyond financial reforms, his administration fundamentally reshaped Nigeria’s admissions landscape through digital innovation, strengthened examination integrity, improved operational efficiency and enhanced public confidence in the nation’s tertiary education admission process.
As he exits office, tributes from across the education sector underscored a shared consensus: Professor Is-haq Oloyede leaves behind a legacy of transformational leadership that has permanently redefined JAMB as a model of transparency, accountability and excellence in public service.
