Committee of friends celebrates Oloyede, unveils book in his hoonour

A Committee of Friends of the outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has unveiled a commemorative book in his honour and also as part of activities marking his decade of transformative leadership at the Board.

The unveiling, which formed one of the highlights of the “National Engagement on Inclusive Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence” held at the Idris Abubakar Auditorium of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja,

The publication, titled: “A Peep into the Future of Higher Education in Nigeria: A Book in Honour of Professor Is-haq Oloyede” is an 860-page scholarly volume published by the Lagos State University Press.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Committee of Friends, Emeritus Prof. Peter Okebukola, disclosed that the decision to produce the commemorative volume elicited overwhelming interest from scholars across the country.

According to him, following a rigorous review process, forty-four scholarly papers were selected for inclusion in the publication, reflecting diverse perspectives on the future of higher education in Nigeria.

He expressed appreciation to all contributors to the volume, particularly Prof. Yahuza Bello and Braide Ekanem, for their dedication and invaluable support throughout the editorial process.

Prof. Okebukola also recounted his interaction with renowned legal luminary, Prof. Yusuf Ali, regarding the unveiling of the book. He disclosed that although Ali initially indicated that prior engagements might prevent him from attending the event, he later cancelled all existing commitments in order to honour the invitation.

In recognition of what he described as an uncommon demonstration of commitment, Okebukola announced that Prof. Ali’s role had been elevated from that of the book’s unveiler to that of “Unveiler-in-Chief.”

The reviewer of the publication, Prof. Asabe Usman, described the assignment as both an honour and a privilege, noting that the volume represents a significant scholarly intervention on the future of Nigeria’s higher education system.

Quoting the popular maxim that “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today,” she said the publication was a fitting tribute to Prof. Oloyede’s remarkable decade of service as the Registrar of JAMB and his enduring contributions to educational development.

Usman stated that the book comprises 44 scholarly papers written by leading academics, administrators and professionals and arranged under six thematic sections. According to her, the publication is more than a compilation of essays as it provides a comprehensive diagnosis of the present state of higher education in Nigeria while offering practical strategies for its future development.

She observed that the publication derives additional scholarly strength from the editorial leadership of Prof. Okebukola, supported by distinguished professors who coordinated each of the thematic sections.

To sum up her observations, Prof. Usman noted that the 44 contributors shared a common conviction that Nigerian higher education must move beyond merely responding to change and instead become a driver of innovation, reform and national development.

She concluded that the book is not only a collection of scholarly reflections but also a call to action for policymakers, administrators and stakeholders to deliberately shape the future of higher education in Nigeria.

Performing the unveiling, Prof. Yusuf Ali, recalled his longstanding relationship with Oloyede dating back to his days as a university lecturer and subsequently as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. He described the outgoing registrar as a man of proven integrity, fairness and transparency, adding that their friendship had endured through the years because of shared values and mutual respect.

While congratulating the incoming Registrar, he urged him to consolidate on the achievements recorded, noting that he would be inheriting a legacy of hard work, innovation and high public expectations.

Speaking on behalf of the contributors, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun expressed appreciation to JEOG for its invaluable support towards the successful production of the commemorative volume.

He described Oloyede as an exceptional institution builder whose commitment to excellence has continued to inspire colleagues across the education sector.

Prof. Fagbohun recalled that both the contributors and members of the editorial team were well aware of the enormous responsibility before them from the out set and had consequently worked diligently to produce a publication worthy of the personality in whose honour it was written.