Prof Oloyede Bows Out After Decade That Recast JAMB
Ten years after taking charge of a troubled admissions system, the outgoing Registrar says technology, transparency and accountability have transformed tertiary admissions as Prof. Segun Aina assumes leadership of the Board
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede on Friday handed over leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to Prof. Segun Aina, ending a decade-long tenure that reshaped Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system through technology, transparency and institutional accountability.
The handover ceremony, held at JAMB’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, marked the end of Oloyede’s tenure as Registrar after he assumed office on August 9, 2016, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Delivering a valedictory address titled “History Made, Future Beckons,” Oloyede described the Board’s transformation over the past 10 years as the product of collective effort, saying the achievements recorded belonged not to one individual but to staff, government institutions and stakeholders who supported the reforms.
“Whatever has been achieved represents only a platform upon which future administrations can build,” he said.
Oloyede formally presented the leadership of the examination body to Aina, expressing confidence that his successor would consolidate on existing reforms and guide the organisation to greater heights.
“I have no doubt that under the leadership of my successor, Professor Segun Aina, JAMB will continue to attain even greater heights in the service of our nation,” he said.
Oloyede said his administration was built on five pillars: staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and networking.
Under his leadership, JAMB expanded Computer-Based Testing nationwide, strengthened biometric verification, introduced the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), deployed the Remote Authoring and Moderation System, expanded digital payment platforms and reinforced surveillance measures aimed at improving the credibility of examinations and admissions.
He described CAPS as one of JAMB’s defining reforms, saying it transformed admissions by making institutional processes more transparent and curbing arbitrary admissions.
“The syndrome of under-the-table admissions has been confined to antiquity,” he said.
Oloyede also highlighted investments in staff welfare, disclosing that more than ₦8 billion had been committed to strengthening employees’ retirement savings during his tenure.
He said the Board introduced a range of welfare initiatives, including 13th-month bonuses, increased examination duty allowances, retirement packages, free transportation for critical staff, free meals during major operations, financial support for medical treatment and performance-based rewards for outstanding employees. According to him, retiring members of staff also received retirement packages ranging from ₦3 million to ₦10 million.
The outgoing Registrar said candidates equally benefited from reforms introduced during the period, including a reduction in the cost of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination application, support for candidates living with disabilities covering transportation, accommodation and feeding, as well as refunds of application fees where applicable.
He added that JAMB also continued to support tertiary institutions through its National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit Award, under which about ₦750 million was distributed annually to encourage excellence.
On institutional discipline, Oloyede said the Board maintained what he described as a zero-tolerance policy against misconduct, leading to the prosecution of more than 10 staff members during his tenure.
He cited the widely publicised “snake swallowed ₦36 million” incident as evidence of the Board’s determination to investigate allegations of corruption rather than conceal them.
According to him, prudent financial management enabled JAMB to remit operational surpluses amounting to scores of billions of naira into the Federal Government’s treasury.
While celebrating the Board’s technological progress, Oloyede acknowledged that digital systems were not immune to failure, referring to the technical challenges experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
“What happened last year which made me emotional was proof that technology has its limits, just like everything human,” he said.
Beyond internal reforms, Oloyede credited JAMB’s progress to extensive collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions, examination bodies, security agencies, the National Identity Management Commission, civil society organisations, accredited Computer-Based Test centres and the media.
He also acknowledged successive administrations for supporting the Board’s work, thanking former Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former and serving Ministers of Education, and several state governors who facilitated infrastructure expansion by donating land, office complexes and facilities for Professional Test Centres, Registration Centres and zonal offices across the country.
Among those he recognised were Governors Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun and other state leaders who supported JAMB’s infrastructure projects.
Oloyede also paid tribute to past Registrars of the Board, staff unions, development partners, civil society groups, owners of accredited CBT centres and examination bodies for their contributions to the institution’s development.
He singled out educationist Prof. Emeritus Peter Okebukola for documenting more than 200 achievements recorded during his administration, describing the compilation as a reflection of years of institutional reform rather than personal accomplishment.
Reflecting on his departure, the outgoing Registrar urged stakeholders to focus on supporting the incoming leadership instead of dwelling on his exit.
“There is no success without a successor,” he said.
He described Aina’s expertise in information and communication technology, combined with what he called his youthful energy, as qualities that would help sustain JAMB’s digital transformation and strengthen public confidence in the admissions system.
As he formally bowed out of office, Oloyede thanked his family for their sacrifices throughout his years in public service and expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the opportunity to serve the country.
“The future is now,” he said while addressing his successor. “Professor Aina, the sky shall be your beginning, not your limit.”
The transition opens a new chapter for Nigeria’s admissions agency, with Prof. Segun Aina assuming office amid expectations that the technology-driven reforms introduced over the past decade will be consolidated and expanded.
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