Nigeria’s education sector on Friday celebrated the immediate past Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, as he formally concluded his ten-year tenure marked by sweeping reforms that repositioned the examination body as one of the country’s most transparent and accountable public institutions.

The reception, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel shortly after Oloyede handed over the leadership of JAMB to his successor, Professor Segun Aina, attracted top government officials, education stakeholders, lawmakers, vice-chancellors, heads of tertiary institutions, JAMB management and staff, family members and friends.

Among those in attendance were the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa; the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad; former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji; Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono; and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN).

Leading the tributes, Alausa described Oloyede’s decade-long stewardship as “nothing short of transformational,” praising his commitment to accountability, transparency, innovation and efficient public service.

“It is with profound admiration and deep appreciation that I pay tribute to Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede as he concludes his distinguished tenure as Registrar of JAMB,” the minister said.

Alausa noted that working closely with Oloyede gave him firsthand insight into the former registrar’s integrity, courage and visionary leadership, adding that his reforms restored public confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.

He commended Oloyede’s prudent financial management, describing him as a model of incorruptibility whose insistence on due process and ethical conduct transformed JAMB into a shining example of good governance.

“His tenure has demonstrated that public institutions can be efficient, transparent, technologically driven and citizen-focused when led by individuals of character and conviction,” Alausa added.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, said Oloyede’s administration would be remembered as a defining era in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system.

She described him as an exceptional administrator, distinguished scholar and exemplary public servant whose tenure was characterised by integrity, innovation, discipline and unwavering commitment to excellence.

According to her, Oloyede’s strategic deployment of technology strengthened transparency, significantly reduced examination malpractice, improved service delivery and enhanced the credibility of the Board.

“Under his visionary leadership, JAMB emerged as one of the most credible and technologically driven examination bodies in Africa,” she said.

Former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji, also hailed Oloyede as a transformational leader whose courage and integrity redefined public administration.

She said the former registrar restored public confidence in JAMB and transformed the agency into a globally respected institution driven by technology, transparency and institutional reforms.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), described Oloyede as an uncommon Nigerian whose contributions to both the University of Ilorin and JAMB would remain indelible.

He recalled Oloyede’s achievements as Vice-Chancellor of the university, where he championed major improvements in infrastructure, human capital development and institutional growth, adding that he later replicated the same reformist vision at JAMB by restoring integrity to the admissions process.

Speakers at the event unanimously agreed that Oloyede leaves behind a stronger, more credible and technologically advanced JAMB than he inherited in 2016.

They particularly highlighted his record of financial accountability, noting that while previous administrations reportedly remitted about ₦50 million to the Federal Government over nearly four decades, Oloyede returned more than ₦7 billion in a single year and over ₦50 billion during his ten-year tenure.

The speakers concluded that Oloyede’s reforms fundamentally reshaped Nigeria’s tertiary admissions system and established new benchmarks for transparency, efficiency and accountability in public service.