The Reformer at JAMB is 70, By Gbemiga Ogunleye

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, probably paid him the greatest tribute today (October 10), on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.

The President rightly described him as an uncommon scholar and and an exceptional administrator.

Very few people will dispute this.

Indeed, Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede
the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB has made remarkable contributions to the nation through the academia and the public-sector.

As the President noted, his impactful tenure at the University of Ilorin, during which he introduced landmark ideas and innovations helped the institution attain enviable heights.

“Through patriotic dedication and commitment to his craft, Prof Oloyede imparted knowledge and character to thousands of students who underwent his teaching during his glorious and impactful academic career.

“Perhaps more remarkable is Prof. Oloyede’s transformative leadership at JAMB. He pioneered and sustained a series of reforms and technological innovations that have made the admission process in Nigeria transparent and credible.”

Ironically, when he was appointed as the Registrar of JAMB, his constituency, the academia were up in arms. His tenure as the VC of UNILORIN, ASUU UNILORIN argued, didn’t recommend him for such a high appointment.

Mercifully, the appointing authority ignored ASUU’s objection.

The result is the phenomenal achievement that Oloyede has recorded at JAMB.

Indeed, hardly had the man assumed office, when recognitions and honours started coming his way.

First was THE SUN newspapers, which in 2019 conferred on him the PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD FOR 2018.

By popular acclaim, it was an honour well-deserved.

In the same year, the LEADERSHIP newspaper also bestowed on JAMB, the GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2018.

The newspaper put in perspective the Oloyede reforms at JAMB.

Let’s quote LEADERSHIP: “The JAMB has been a cesspool of corruption for a long time but nobody knew. Then suddenly, a different kind of man got posted there as Registrar. All of a sudden, within one year, the same JAMB that had been remitting N3million to the Federal Government annually, remitted over N5billion. Yes, this is true. That even enabled JAMB to reduce its fees for the teeming Nigerian students who are the main clients of the Government agency. For those inimitable acts, JAMB under Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, is LEADERSHIP GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2018.”

If remitting N5billion to the Federal Government in his first year was considered a feat, Oloyede topped it by N2 billion in his second year.

In a country where there is almost a consensus that corruption has become a culture in government agencies, this professor of Islamic studies is showing that JAMB is different.

Corrupt JAMB officials, who colluded with corrupt University officials to sell admission to innocent students were quickly shown the way out of the agency.

The President captured this when he stated in his tribute: “In his eight years of stewardship of the Board thus far, Professor Oloyede has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to financial integrity and accountability in public service. He has also raised the bar in administration and management.”

For those of us, who have chosen to hold public office holders to account and who are quick to expose corrupt public officers, it is meet and proper to celebrate an outstanding public officer.

Oloyede is one!

My wishes for Oloyede on this occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary, are that Almighty Allah should grant him good health and long life so that he can be available for higher service to the country.

One thing is certain, by the time this Ogun State-born star leaves office, the refrain would be: OLOYEDE was here!

When comes another?

*Ogunleye, a journalist and lawyer, is a former provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos.

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