Outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has officially handed over leadership of the examination body after ten years in office, saying he is leaving behind a stronger, more transparent and globally respected institution.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at JAMB’s National Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on Friday, Oloyede reflected on what he described as a decade of reforms that transformed the Board through technology, accountability, staff welfare and institutional transparency.
“We leave JAMB stronger. There is no success without a successor. Support Professor Aina and pray for his success because his success will be the success of JAMB and Nigeria,” Oloyede said.
The former registrar urged Nigerians to support his successor, Prof. Segun Aina, stressing that the continued progress of JAMB depends on continuity rather than individuals.
Oloyede, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari and President Bola Tinubu, said the Board’s achievements were made possible through teamwork and collective commitment rather than personal effort.
“Whatever we achieved was possible because thousands of committed Nigerians worked together to strengthen this institution,” he stated.
Highlighting the major reforms introduced during his tenure, Oloyede said JAMB strengthened its Computer-Based Test (CBT) system, introduced the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), expanded biometric verification, improved digital payment systems, enhanced CCTV surveillance and adopted remote examination management technologies.
According to him, these reforms significantly reduced examination malpractice, improved transparency and restored confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process.
“Technology became the backbone of our reforms. It strengthened integrity, improved efficiency and made manipulation increasingly difficult,” he added.
The outgoing registrar also highlighted improvements in staff welfare, revealing that JAMB invested over ₦8 billion in retirement savings, introduced a 13th-month salary, increased examination duty allowances, provided free transportation and meals for staff on official assignments and funded medical treatments for employees. He added that retiring staff members received retirement benefits ranging from ₦3 million to ₦10 million.
Oloyede maintained that while staff welfare remained a priority, discipline was never compromised. He disclosed that more than ten staff members were prosecuted for alleged misconduct during his administration, recalling the widely reported case involving a staff member who claimed that a snake swallowed ₦36 million.
“We promoted staff welfare but never compromised on discipline. You either endure the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret,” he said.
He also noted that JAMB reduced the cost of UTME registration forms by 30 per cent, introduced support for candidates living with disabilities and continued funding tertiary institutions through the National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit (NATAPM) Awards.
As he concluded his tenure, Oloyede thanked President Tinubu, former President Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Minister of Education and other stakeholders for supporting the Board’s reforms.
Expressing confidence in the new registrar, he described Prof. Segun Aina as a capable leader whose expertise in information and communication technology would further strengthen JAMB.
“The future is now. Professor Aina, the sky shall be your beginning, not your limit,” Oloyede declared.
After ten years in office, Oloyede said he would now return to his family, academic work and religious commitments, bringing to an end one of the most significant leadership eras in JAMB’s history.
