By Malachy Uzendu
Ever since the low-score saga by some candidates after the release of the results of the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, some Nigerians have asked for the head of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar/Chief Executive of the examination body. Yet, others, believed that with Prof. Oloyede’s pedigree, spa ning several decades in the academia, especially his sterling performance and unmatched excellent performance as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Ilorin, his years in the service of the nation at JAMB, his integrity is one to be relied upon, in spite of the mix-up that led to the retaking of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), some weeks ago.
Although Prof. Ishaq met an examination body that had remained a drain pipe without visible improvements in its operations, he has since removed the body from the vestiges of “snakes swallowing money or monkey chopping money” examination body to one with visible innovations and an asset to the nation in terms of contributions to the national Treasury.
Before his appointment, JAMB never remitted any kobo to the Federation Account, but since his appointment, never did any year pass without JAMB remitting billions of Naira to the FAC.
The examination body, it is know, is the first federal agency to exit unnecessary national budgetary leaches by proving that it can bring something to the till, not just a cap-in-hand institution.
When therefore, the unfortunate incident that affected some students who took the 2025 UTME negatively, Prof. Oloyede proved he is not one to shy away from facing the fact, no matter how ugly such facts might be. He is also not one who would shield any of his officers, may himself, if involved in any form of infraction. He came up, publicly admitted fault of JAMB, quickly investigated what happened and within days, gave a report that has not been faulted.
He allowed all affected students to retake the UTME at no extra cost and their accurate results released immediately. That’s the Hallmark of a man who possesses integrity and who is keen on advancing his country.
Prof. Oloyede did not behave like some professors who would advise distrust Nigerians to “go to court” or to “do whatever you think you can do”. He exhibited visible humility and took the bullets, even when it hurts him so much.
To prove that he is not one who would permit his integrity to be dented, not while he is alive, he immediately got back to the office, he constituted high-powered ICT experts to unravel how “water entered the hollow of the coconut fruit”. And the inquisition yielded much success. And he did not just start by carrying out his enquiry just at what happened during the publication of the results.
Being a man of thorough process, he started from the very beginning: the registration of candidates for the examination. Prof. Oloyede was pretty sure he would succeed as he had over the years interrogated the different ramifications of the examination processes.
With the facts at his disposal, he found 11 CBT centres, and over 20 registration officers at the affected CBT Centers, have been indicted on registration malpractices alone and have been recommended to face severe sanctions. In particular, the centers and the registration officers were indicated over fingerprint infractions. “We Convened this meeting because of anomalies notices. 862 CBT Centers, some of which had extremely abnormal activities,” Prof. Oloyede stated.
The evidence he provided were precise and scientific proof beyond any reasonable doubt that the registration officers, working at the indicted CBT Centers, had manipulated the fingerprint registration processes, by using their own finger prints to register specific candidates, the centers and time of committing the infraction, the details of the computer system used to commit the infraction, the photographs of the staff who perpetrated such infraction and other detailed information anybody would wish to know about.
None of the indicted officials put up any form of denial except that they came up with flimsy excuses for engaging in the fraudulent activity.
The JAMB boss displayed such high level of candour during the session that he never displayed his psychological disposition or anything that would suggest he was totally pissed off. He displayed such a gentlemanly approach to the investigation, that would give him out as a possible candidate for the post of Inspector-General of Police or the Director-General of the Department of State Services or of the National Intelligence Agency. In him, I immediately knew that the issues of insecurity in the country were totally and completely not beyond resolution: a very easy one for that matter should the people charged with such responsibility be willing to play their part professionally.
At the brainstorming session with critical stakeholders, which included this writer, last Tuesday in Abuja, the recommendations arising out of the session were compiled and forwarded to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, for approval and necessary action.
Reading the resolutions before the culprits and the stakeholders, the Public Relations Officer of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated, “The leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board with some critical stakeholders here recommends as follows: That any registrant who registered more than 50 candidates (with infractions), should be dismissed from participating in any activities of the JAMB.
“And what that means, is that such a person will not participate in any exercise being handled by JAMB, will not be registered for UTME even as a student, and will not be allowed to participate in any of the sister examinations, be it WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, for a period of three years. After three years, the Board will revisit it and if the registrant show acceptable remorse, such suspension could be lifted. Other culprits who registered less than 50 candidate in such unscrupulous manner will be warned and will be required to write a letter of apology to the Board after issuing a bond, indicating that they will not be involved in such a thing again.
“As for the CBT centres, all CBT centres involved are to be warned, also, they will be asked to sign a bond. Beside the bond, they will be required to give evidence of training of their registrants in acceptable manner with requisite knowledge. That training should be anchored by the appropriate department of the university within their vicinity”.
Throwing more light on the recommendations, Oloyede said the Board will not entertain any infraction from the affected centres in the future despite their claim of ignorance, hence, the need for them to undergo necessary training in federal universities closest to them before they can be re-engaged by JAMB.
“We will not allow any of these centres to do anything with us until they bring a certificate, a letter from a federal institution closest to that centre, that their staff have been trained on ethical standards. But for centres that are owned by federal government, this report will be forwarded to their authorities that this is what your agents did,” he said.
Some stakeholders at the meeting and former Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Fatai Owoseni; former Controller-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kelechi Mmadu; civil rights activists, all frowned at the misdemeanor, noting that the actions of the affected registrants and the CBT Centers warrants prosecution and possible jail term, but appealed to JAMB to forgive and make them sign an undertaking not to engage in such infraction in the future.
Earlier, an official of Jicoras CBT Centre, Bashir Gumel, explained that the centre has already commenced internal probe on the matter, saying the outcome will be forwarded to JAMB.
“We have summoned all of them and heard what they have done. And they have confessed that. To retain the integrity of our institution, this will not go like that. They have to be punished. And we promise that the action that will be taken will be shared with JAMB. Because this is our first time of participating in JAMB registration, we are not aware of such occurrence. We promised that this will never occur again”.
The affected CBT centres included Misau Emirate ICT Centre, Misau, Bauchi State; Ijaw National Academy, Kiama, Bayelsa State; Directorate of ICT Nigerian Army University, Biu, Gombe State; Emerald IT Academy Limited, Benin City, Edo State; Tigh Technologies, Sascon International School, Maitama, Abuja; Jicoras CBT Centre, Babura, Jigawa State and Huntsville Technology Limited, Anthony, Lagos State.
Others were Jolas College CBT Centre, Obalende, Lagos; Abdul Ocean Weath CBT Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State; National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Wase, Plateau State and the Consulate Salle D’Examen CBT Centre, by Jonny Lane/Navy Barracks, Agip Estate, Rivers State.
