Oloyede Leaves JAMB, Reveals Next Move After 10 Years in Office

(Outgoing JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. Photo by Punch News)

Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, has stated that he will return to academia and religious activities after serving for ten years, stating that he needs time to "go back and beg God" after the responsibilities of public service.

Oloyede made the remarks during the handover to the new Registrar, Prof. Aina, where he also defended JAMB's controversial decision to impose a three-year ban on 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination candidate Mmesoma Ejikeme, insisting that he had no regrets because the board acted to protect the integrity of its examination process.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin said his years in public office had been both professionally and spiritually demanding, adding that he looked forward to a quieter life in the classroom and a renewed commitment to his faith.

He said what lies ahead for him is a return to his classroom and his religious activities, explaining that no one can serve for the past 10 years without losing one spiritual quality or the other, given the demanding nature of the system, which sometimes forces one to compromise personal principles.

Explaining his need for spiritual renewal, Oloyede said he needed time to seek God's forgiveness for certain decisions made during his tenure, stressing that everyone must take responsibility for their actions.

The outgoing registrar attributed the successes recorded by JAMB during his time in office to the commitment of the Board's staff, expressing confidence that his successor would build on the reforms introduced over the past decade.

He said the achievements recorded during his tenure were made possible by the collective commitment and hard work of the Board's workforce, adding that he was confident Aina would take JAMB to greater heights.

Reflecting on the Mmesoma Ejikeme controversy, Oloyede maintained that JAMB's decision to sanction the candidate, who inflated her UTME score from 249 to 362, was justified and necessary to preserve the credibility of the board's examinations.

He described Mmesoma as "our daughter," explaining that the board acted as a responsible parent correcting a child rather than out of malice, adding that he had no hard feelings, and that if there was any regret, it was that she found herself in that situation as one of their own, even as the board maintained it had acted appropriately.

He noted that many people were initially misled by a false narrative, but that once the truth emerged, those who had supported her accepted the facts.

He said he regretted that some Nigerians initially believed the false version of events, but was glad the board was ultimately vindicated, explaining that every parent wants to believe in their child's innocence, which is why some people initially supported the narrative, but that he was pleased the truth eventually prevailed.

He stressed that the sanction imposed on the candidate was meant to deter examination malpractice rather than to punish her out of spite, explaining that this did not remove the consequences she had to face, but that the punishment was not born of wickedness, rather it was necessary given the responsibilities of the office.

He maintained that as long as decisions are not made out of hatred and are carried out because the office demands them, there should be no regrets or hard feelings.

In his acceptance remarks, the new registrar, Prof. Aina, pledged to uphold JAMB's reputation for integrity and transparency, warning that the board would continue deploying technology to combat examination malpractice.

He stated that the integrity of JAMB is non-negotiable, warning that anyone contemplating outsmarting the system should abandon such plans, as the board's technology-driven processes would continue to frustrate every form of malpractice and fraud.

He added that his immediate priority would be to study the board's existing operations before introducing any reforms, stating that he intends to listen, observe and thoroughly interrogate existing systems before implementing changes.

Appointed JAMB Registrar in 2016, Oloyede oversaw sweeping reforms that strengthened the board's computer-based testing system, enhanced transparency in admissions, and significantly increased remittances to the Federal Government.

His administration also introduced technological innovations aimed at curbing impersonation, result falsification and other forms of examination malpractice.

One of the defining moments of his tenure came in 2023, when JAMB sanctioned Mmesoma Ejikeme after investigations established that she had manipulated her UTME result.

Although the decision initially sparked widespread public debate, subsequent investigations and admissions by those involved ultimately vindicated the board's position and reinforced its commitment to protecting the integrity of Nigeria's tertiary admissions process.