Otamere Gladness 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s education leaders have hailed former JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for transforming the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) into one of Africa’s most transparent examination bodies, as he officially bowed out after a decade of sweeping reforms.
The tributes came on Friday night during a reception at the Abuja Continental Hotel, held shortly after Oloyede handed over leadership of the examination body to his successor, Professor Segun Aina.
Leading the commendations, Minister of Education Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa described Oloyede’s decade-long tenure as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s education sector, saying his reforms fundamentally changed the culture of accountability, transparency and innovation within JAMB.
“It is with profound admiration and deep appreciation that I pay tribute to Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede,” Alausa said.
The minister said Oloyede’s commitment to integrity, prudent financial management and institutional reforms repositioned JAMB as a model of good governance within Nigeria’s public service.
According to Alausa, the outgoing registrar’s leadership strengthened public confidence in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) through the deployment of technology, tighter accountability measures and transparent financial practices.
The event attracted senior government officials, university administrators, education stakeholders and former public office holders, many of whom credited Oloyede with restoring credibility to one of Nigeria’s most important examination bodies.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described Oloyede as an exceptional administrator whose technology-driven reforms drastically reduced examination malpractice and improved operational efficiency.
“He transformed JAMB into one of the most credible examination bodies in Africa,” she said.
Former Minister of Education Professor Chinwe Obaji also paid tribute, praising Oloyede’s visionary leadership and lasting contributions to educational development.
Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), said Oloyede’s legacy extends beyond examination administration to institutional reform and public sector accountability.
Speakers highlighted JAMB’s unprecedented financial performance under Oloyede, noting that the agency remitted more than ₦50 billion into the Federal Government’s coffers during his ten-year tenure, compared with about ₦50 million remitted by previous administrations over a comparable period.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Korede Abdullah 
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