From Lukman Olabiyi
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Yusuf Ali, has defended the integrity of Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), amid controversy over technical issues that disrupted the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement, Ali described Oloyede as an “uncommon person” with a record of integrity, transparency, and selflessness.
Ali, who has known Oloyede for nearly 50 years, acknowledged glitches that affected about 300,000 of the 1.5 million UTME candidates, mainly in the South East and Lagos. He praised Oloyede’s response, noting, “In a system where public officials often act with impunity, Prof. Oloyede has chosen the path of responsibility, empathy, and transparency.”
JAMB has scheduled a fresh examination for affected candidates.
Ali noted Oloyede’s commitment, including personal visits to JAMB offices nationwide to ensure readiness. He rejected calls for Oloyede’s resignation, stating, “Good leadership is not about taking flight when issues arise. It is about standing firm and resolving them.”
The SAN said the incident should not overshadow Oloyede’s achievements, such as his transformative tenure at the University of Ilorin.
“I am confident that Prof. Oloyede’s leadership at JAMB will continue to uphold the highest standards of accountability and excellence,” Ali concluded.