Oloyede's Legacy Looms Large Over New JAMB Registrar

Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has appointed 39-year-old Prof. Segun Aina as its new registrar, taking over from the widely acclaimed Prof. Ishaq Oloyede. While Aina's youth and academic credentials, including degrees from the University of Kent and Loughborough University, are notable, the focus remains on the substantial legacy left by his predecessor.

Oloyede transformed JAMB from a little-known agency into a significant revenue generator for the government. Upon assuming office in August 2016, he initiated a remarkable shift, remitting N5 billion to the Federal Government in 2017 alone. This figure starkly contrasted with the paltry N50.7 million JAMB had remitted over seven years between 2010 and 2016, during which no funds were remitted in several years. Oloyede's tenure was marked by transparency, integrity, and a significant increase in financial contributions.

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The weight of the news had more to do with the outstanding image that had been created for the hitherto back-seat agency by the young professor’s predecessor, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

Aina, who holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering and postgraduate degrees in Internet Computing and Network Security, as well as Digital Signal Processing, also possesses experience with JAMB and other examination bodies. His appointment is seen as a move to ensure the continuation of the high standards set by Oloyede.

The article highlights the immense pressure on Aina to match Oloyede's performance, particularly in financial remittances and maintaining the agency's reputation for integrity. Oloyede's impact was such that he unveiled the agency's potential for significant financial contributions, which had previously been largely untapped or, as implied, subject to "unrestrained stealing."

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JAMB, which did not increase fees or charges, remitted only a paltry N50,752,544 to the Federal Government in seven years, between 2010 and 2016, about one per cent of the N5bn remitted by the Oloyede-led administration in one year!