The outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has formally relinquished leadership of the nation’s admissions agency after 10 years in office, saying his administration restored credibility, transparency and efficiency to Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process through wide-ranging reforms anchored on technology and accountability.
Speaking during the handover ceremony at JAMB’s national headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on Friday, Oloyede reflected on a decade of institutional transformation, maintaining that the successes recorded under his leadership were the result of teamwork and shared commitment rather than individual effort.
He officially handed over the affairs of the Board to Prof. Segun Aina, expressing confidence that the incoming Registrar would consolidate on existing reforms and deepen JAMB’s digital transformation.
According to Oloyede, his administration was guided by five core principles—staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and collaboration—which shaped the Board’s operations throughout his tenure.
“I have no doubt that under the leadership of my successor, Professor Segun Aina, JAMB will continue to attain even greater heights in the service of our nation,” he said.
Highlighting staff welfare initiatives, the outgoing Registrar disclosed that JAMB committed more than ₦8 billion to improving employees’ retirement savings while introducing several incentives, including a 13th-month salary, examination duty allowances, free transportation for essential staff and financial support for medical treatment.
He added that retiring members of staff received severance appreciation packages ranging from ₦3 million to ₦10 million, while exceptional employees were recognised with cash rewards and institutional honours.
Oloyede also said candidates benefited from reforms introduced during his tenure, noting that the cost of registering for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was reduced by 30 per cent. He further explained that candidates living with disabilities received support covering transportation, accommodation, feeding and refunds of their application fees.
He revealed that JAMB equally disbursed approximately ₦750 million annually to tertiary institutions under its National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit Award programme.
On the Board’s anti-corruption drive, Oloyede said more than 10 staff members were prosecuted for alleged misconduct during his administration, describing the move as evidence of JAMB’s commitment to discipline and institutional accountability.
He referenced the controversial “snake swallowed ₦36 million” incident, saying the episode underscored the Board’s determination to expose and investigate corruption instead of concealing wrongdoing.
According to him, prudent financial management enabled JAMB to remit billions of naira in operational surpluses to the Federal Government during his tenure.
Oloyede also outlined major technological innovations introduced by the Board, including the expansion of computer-based testing, deployment of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), enhanced biometric verification, CCTV surveillance, digital payment platforms and the Remote Authoring and Moderation System.
He said the reforms significantly curtailed examination malpractice and strengthened the integrity of the admissions process nationwide.
Despite the achievements, the outgoing Registrar acknowledged that technology has limitations, citing the technical disruptions experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
“What happened last year which made me emotional was proof that technology has its limits, just like everything human,” he said.
Speaking on admissions transparency, Oloyede described CAPS as one of JAMB’s most transformative innovations, noting that it eliminated arbitrary admissions and enhanced accountability across tertiary institutions.
“The syndrome of under-the-table admissions has been confined to antiquity,” he stated.
He attributed the Board’s progress to strong partnerships with the Federal Ministry of Education, tertiary institutions, examination bodies, security agencies, the National Identity Management Commission, civil society organisations, media organisations and more than 1,000 accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
Oloyede also expressed appreciation to Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, successive Ministers of Education and several state governors for supporting JAMB’s reforms and infrastructure development.
He particularly acknowledged governors who donated land and facilities for the establishment of mega Professional Test and Registration Centres in states including Borno, Ogun, Rivers, Edo, Imo, Lagos, Kwara and Bayelsa.
Commending the Board’s workforce, he described the vast majority of JAMB employees as dedicated professionals who contributed immensely to the institution’s achievements.
“Most of the JAMB staff are competent and committed Nigerians. I seldom say it in order to keep you on your toes, but I now say it loud: thank you very much,” he said.
The outgoing Registrar also thanked candidates, parents and other stakeholders for their continuous feedback, saying it helped shape improvements in service delivery throughout his administration.
He disclosed that education experts had documented more than 200 achievements recorded during his decade-long leadership, stressing that the accomplishments represented enduring institutional reforms rather than personal victories.
Urging stakeholders to support the incoming Registrar, Oloyede said the future success of JAMB depended on sustained collaboration and continuity.
“There is no success without a successor,” he said.
“I wish Professor Segun Aina great success. His success is the success of all of us who have been privileged to steer JAMB since its inception.”
He added that Aina’s background in information and communication technology and his youthful outlook positioned him to advance the Board’s digital agenda.
“As I return to my family with gratitude, I thank Almighty Allah for the privilege of serving Nigeria through this noble institution.
“The future is now. Professor Aina, the sky shall be your beginning, not your limit,” Oloyede said.
