JAMB: Oloyede bows out after 10 years, Aina takes over

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, on Friday, formally handed over the leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to Professor Segun Aina, after 10 years at the helm of affairs of the board.

The handover ceremony at JAMB’s national headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, marked the end of Oloyede’s tenure that reshaped Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system through sweeping technological reforms and unprecedented transparency.

In a valedictory address entitled: “History Made, Future Beckons,” Oloyede reflected on what he described as a decade of collective achievements driven by staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and strategic partnerships.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for retaining him in office, former President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing him in 2016, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, former education ministers, governors, heads of tertiary institutions, security agencies, development partners and members of staff for supporting the board’s transformation.

He confirmed that JAMB recorded remarkable progress through the expansion of Computer-Based Testing (CBT), the introduction of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), biometric verification, digital payments, CCTV surveillance and other technology-driven innovations that strengthened the credibility of admissions into tertiary institutions.

Oloyede also highlighted major welfare initiatives introduced under his administration, including over N8 billion committed to staff retirement savings, the introduction of a 13th-month salary, increased examination duty allowances, free transportation and meals for staff, and medical support for employees.

He said JAMB also reduced the cost of UTME application forms, sponsored candidates living with disabilities to examination centres and rewarded outstanding tertiary institutions through its National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit (NATAPM) awards.

In his speech, Aina paid glowing tribute to Oloyede and past registrars, saying he was inheriting an institution built on strong values and robust systems.