Comment is free, but facts are sacred -Charles Prestwich Scott.

Let me state from this starting point that I am an accidental journalist, sort of; just like Nasir el-Rufai, ex-governor of Kaduna state, described himself as an accidental civil servant. But let no one mistake the reference to el-Rufai here to mean anything! He is neither friend nor foe!

I set out to be an academician. As a secondary school leaver, my heroes were Marxist scholars Dr. Segun Osoba and Dr. Bala Usman of the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria respectively. Hence my choice of History as a course of study at UNIFE – and what a pleasure to have studied at the feet of our iconic comrade, Dr. Segun Osoba! I passed out at Ife in 1982 with a combined honors degree in History and Political Science.

The two History teachers were the authors of the minority report that emanated from the 1976 Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) inaugurated on October 18, 1975 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos by the then military Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed.

Known as the “50 wise men”, the CDC was later reduced to 49 members because Chief Obafemi Awolowo declined to participate in the committee headed by legal luminary, Chief FRA Williams. Murtala Muhammed was later assassinated in an abortive coup on February 13, 1976 by Col. Bukar Sukar Dimka and co.

Immediately after my NYSC at the University of Ibadan, I enrolled for the M.SC. in Political Science course in the same university, but the mistake of someone I never knew ensured I did not graduate with my mates. My long essay was sent to the wrong examiner; when this mistake was discovered late in the day, I was sent to the right examiner, a professor and Head of the Political Science department at the University of Ilorin. He scored me an A and also promised me a Graduate Assistantship job in the department.

So I kept going to Ilorin but he kept posting me for reasons I could not fathom, until, one day, his secretary took pity on me and told me point black that Prof. had decided to reserve the two available vacancies for two of his Ijebu kinsmen who were still studying for their own master’s degree!

Was I devastated? Prof. was from an Ishara royal family in Ogun state while I am from Owo in Ondo state – both of us being Yoruba. I understand he passed on a few years ago. May his soul rest in peace! I told my story to a friend and colleague of his some years back and he could only giggle and wonder what came over him!

Each time I remember my UNILORIN experience, I also remember what my role model, Alhaji Nojeem Jimoh, always says about the Yoruba-nation struggle: that it is our being in Nigeria that solidifies and gives meaning to our Yoruba identity. If and when we achieve our goal of an independent Yoruba nation, we shall retreat to what was and begin to see ourselves as Ijebu, Egba, Ekiti, Owo, Egun, Awori, Oyo, Akoko, Ilaje, etc.  O! The ethnic struggles and cut-throat competitions that will ensue! God help us!

I say this not to denigrate or discourage anyone involved in the Yoruba-nation struggle but to sound a note of warning. To be fore-warned, as they say…

I had a flair for writing early. At UNIFE, I took interest in our Marxist groups’ campus newsletters and the first two articles I wrote after my M.SC. graduations were published by the then flagship of the Nigerian media, The Guardian newspapers, when respected Sonala Olumhense was the Editorial Page Editor. I also contributed to the Ibadan-based Sketch newspapers, now defunct. Shortly after, as I was still scurrying everywhere for a lectureship, I got employed as a Senior Reporter by Sketch newspapers in October 1985 and that was how my journalism odyssey began.

I did not study Journalism or Mass Communications within the four walls of any school; I learned on the job. I grew from a reporter who covered the various gamut of reportorial work from the grassroots to the urban centres and cities; from the ‘red light’ districts to the polished exclusive preserves of the elite, traversing virtually every Desk – Politics, Business/Finance, Foreign Affairs, Labor, General Beat, name it.

Today’s deviation from the journalism I knew is massive and I just felt I should express an opinion, since comment is free. I come in peace!

I moved from the Newsroom to the Features department. I handled the Sunday, Saturday, and Daily publications at various levels, up to the editorship. In the giddy days of military dictatorship and the struggle to revalidate the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola but annulled by the military dictatorship of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, I was also in the trenches like many others. Giving vent to the “guerilla press” genre we had encountered in Marxist literature, I led the task of editing a weekly newspaper published underground by the PUNCH. Like many others, I suffered harassment; was haunted, hunted and detained, narrowly escaping getting martyred.

I had been Chairman, Editorial Board; Deputy Editor-in-Chief and, at some points, a newly-created Advertorial Department was under my purview while the Advert Department itself worked closely with me. I poked my nose in Printing as well as the Circulation departments as occasion demanded. Of course, I was also the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of a newsmagazine, thereby affording me an opportunity to study as well as oversee the technicalities and nuances of that special branch of newspapering.

For decades now, I have maintained columns in respected national newspapers. I also feature regularly as an analyst on radio and television.

Not one, not two persons have said that in other climes, I will qualify as Professor of Practice in Journalism or Mass Communications! The only aspect of the profession that I have been absent from – and deliberately so – is its unionism. I am not a union person. The only time I had participated in any union activities was when my comrade, Lanre Arogundade, contested for the chairmanship position of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

I saw quite early how union activities were employed by some reporters as shields and excuses to shirk their duties and responsibilities. I also saw how union leaders employed blackmail to get by and decided against getting involved in union activities – but this is not to say that I see nothing good in union activities. My choice is personal to me – whether right or wrong.

I squirm when union leaders solicitously go cap-in-hand to the very people, agencies and organizations – public and private – that they are mandated by the Constitution to hold accountable to the people. They arrange and give awards – Best this, and Best that – to the very organizations and personalities they are supposed to exercise watchdog functions over. I may be wrong, but I do not think such a watchdog can escape being compromised. How can they avoid being beholden to those from whom they seek favors? For, as they say, he who pays the piper…

Although I also teach Political Science courses in a private university, I earn my living working mainly as a journalist. So I introduce myself as a “journalist” when I am asked about my profession. But is journalism a profession?

The vice-chancellor of a first-generation Nigerian university stared me in the face sometimes ago and said journalism is a vocation and not a profession. He did not mean to denigrate but to draw attention to the fine line that separates professions from vocations. Journalism can be a profession but I think its fore-fathers deliberately chose to remain a vocation or trade union even when others like public relations and teaching were professionalizing. Is it too late for journalism to quit being a vocation/trade union and become a profession? Is such a move even desirable? I leave that as a topic for another day!

But it would appear as if it is the lack of the rigors of professionalism that has made journalism an all-comers affairs. Before university graduates began to stream into the profession, it used to be looked down upon and derided; most of its practitioners being School Certificate or Diploma holders. This is not to say that those early journalists did not prove their mettle but in a society crazy for degrees and titles, there is no way such a perceived “deficiency” would not rub off negatively on the profession and its practitioners.

The advent of social media has not helped matters. These days, all you need to become a journalist is an android phone! Once you can string sentences together – factual or false, with tenses and grammar that do not align – you are a journalist! Who registers journalists? Who regulates the profession? What standards must be met? And who enforces? Some of the criteria for a profession are that it sets and enforces standards and also self-regulates. Does journalism meet this threshold?

If we excuse social media for what it is, what of the traditional media – print and electronic? If we ignore the pretenders to journalism, what of those with known pedigree who, regrettably, brazenly brutalize journalism ethics and, painfully, to wide and wild acclaim? Supposedly well-trained and well-horned journalists assault with relish every known journalism ethics. At best, they are partisan political activists seizing and desecrating the podium of journalism.

Trust me, I see nothing wrong in anyone being a political activist. It is a noble vocation or calling whose services are sorely needed in any democratic society properly so-called. But let such elements openly announce themselves as such and stop masquerading as journalists.

The ethics of journalism are clear and unambiguous. Detach yourself from the issues. Facts are sacred, opinion is free. Listen to and state all sides to an issue. Be fair to all. When in doubt, leave out. Lay the facts bare and allow your audience or readers the freedom to reach their own conclusions. Don’t goad them in this or that direction. Don’t intimidate them. Interviewers must be civil, courteous and respectful, even when vigorously pursuing leads.

Why abuse or exchange words with your guest? The moment you enter into the ring yourself, any claim to objectivity is lost. And journalism is all about objectivity, fairness, and truth. Even columnists and commentators who are allowed a lot of leg-room are expected to still serve their audience “informed commentaries!”

The basic rules which, for ages, have governed journalism are today thrown under the bus by gallivanting political activists masquerading as journalists. Interviewers speak more than their guests! They hardly allow someone they had invited to throw light on an issue the opportunity or liberty to do so! They already have a preconceived idea and are abrasive the way they railroad their guests towards it! Decline and suffer verbal assault!

Today’s deviation from the journalism I knew is massive and I just felt I should express an opinion, since comment is free. I come in peace!

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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The event is scheduled to hold on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos.

‎‎The symposium represents a pinnacle of a year-long celebration honouring the university’s remarkable journey since its founding in 1975.

‎It will gather distinguished alumni, academics, industry leaders, and stakeholders to reflect on the institution’s achievements, contributions to national development, and future prospects in education and innovation.

‎‎The event will be chaired by a distinguished alum, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), whose leadership in infrastructure and public service aligns with the university’s legacy of excellence.

‎Adding to the prestige, the symposium will be graced by Professor Wahab Egbewole, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, and Professor AbdurRazaq Kilani, President of the Unilorin Alumni Association and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

‎‎The symposium underscores the association’s commitment to fostering lifelong connections and supporting the university’s ongoing mission.

‎‎Engineer Isiwat Lawal, Vice-President of the Unilorin Alumni Association and Lagos State Anchor, stated: “This grand symposium is more than an event; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Unilorin. As we mark 50 years of academic excellence, we invite all alumni and well-wishers to join us in celebrating our shared heritage and charting a bold path forward. Together, we continue to build on the foundations laid by our alma mater.”

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It was one of those rare weeks that seemed to sprint past like a 100-metre dash yet managed to etch memories as indelible as carved stone. In just seven days, my calendar brimmed with nostalgia, honour, camaraderie, and renewed bonds—threaded through three distinct alumni encounters that spanned cities, professions, and decades of shared history.

In a seeming echo of “charity begins at home”, the week began in the tranquil town of Ede, Osun State, where the 1976–1981 cohort of Ede Muslim Grammar School had planned what I thought would be a modest get-together. It turned out to be far more. It ended as an effusive special reception in my honour to celebrate my recent elevation to professorship. The venue, Dignity Hotel, lived up to its name, dressed in understated elegance, and buzzing with anticipation.

Old girls and boys of my set streamed in, each bringing with them a piece of our shared youth. Among the earliest arrivals was the ever-first Elejigbo, Fatai Oyeyemi, accompanied by his gracious wife. Soon after came Haji Kazeem Mustapha, whose laughter could still fill a stadium, and Suebat Adenle, our indefatigable cohort secretary whose organisational flair remains undimmed. Alhaji Kayode Adetunji arrived with a warmth that instantly took us back to our school corridors, followed by Alhaji Isiaka Yusuf, better known as Ebedi,   The General Manager of Osun State Ambulance Services, Dr Olapade Mukaila also joined, alongside several other well-meaning colleagues who had travelled from their respective current locations.

The air was rich with the aroma of sumptuous delicacies, and pastries that got gulped as quickly as they were served. Drinks flowed freely, loosening tongues and lubricating memories. Soon, the room erupted into the familiar banter of old classmates: mischievous tales of school escapades, long-forgotten nicknames, and legendary incidents retold with dramatic flourishes. Laughter blared ceaselessly, echoing long after the sun had surrendered to night. By the time the evening wound down, I felt not just celebrated, but anchored in a community that had shaped my earliest ambitions.

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I unpacked from Ede and right on Monday, August 11, 2025, entered the second phase of my reunion week. This time, I joined my former UNILORIN folks, drawn from different sets though. The venue was the command post of none other than Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC. As with Governor Adeleke at Ede Muslim Grammar School, Opeifa and I graduated the same year from Unilorin. Time to hum the Yoruba folk song of “ori’re kon’re mi…’ for Kay as he was fondly hailed at Ilorin.  Dr Opeifa was recently honoured as a distinguished alumnus of our “Better by Far” University of Ilorin.

The Lagos Branch of the Alumni Association, seizing the moment, arrived with a life-size congratulatory banner that stood like a sentinel in the room. As leader of the delegation, Engineer Isiwat Lawal from the Lagos State Ministry of Works announced our mission: to rally support for the national body’s plan to commemorate the university’s 50th anniversary in a manner worthy of its legacy.

Opeifa’s reaction was most prompt and pleasant. He instantly declared his full support for the anniversary plans and promised to marshal every resource within his reach. Wasting no time, he summoned all Unilorin alumni within reach at NRC, including Dr Toheeb Quadri, to join the courtesy moment. He urged them to be part of what he described as “a glorious proposal for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.” In that moment, the past and future of our alma mater  fused manifesting pride and purpose.

Running almost parallel to my Ede reception was the third phase of my reunion series.  It was the National Elective Conference of The Companion, held from Friday, August 8 to Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Peace Hotel in Ilorin, Kwara State. The Companion is not just any association. It is the post-university family of those who once belonged to the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) during their tertiary education years.  It is one family of professionals and business people bound by faith, ethics, and service.

This year’s conference drew an impressive roster of dignitaries. Royal fathers graced the opening: the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, and the Aala of Ilala, Oba Abdulfatai Oladega Talabi. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Sulayman Ibrahim, a transnationally seasoned IT expert, while the principal goodwill message came from Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, Principal of Ghalib Law Firm.

Fleeting though it was, that week of reunions has left me convinced that while honours and titles may fade with time, the bonds we build and the communities we serve endure far longer

Themed “Thriving Amidst Adversity: Strategies for Survival in Nigeria’s Challenging Economy,” the conference became a melting pot of ideas, reflections, and pragmatic counsel. From calls for attitudinal change and anti-corruption discipline to appeals for government support of MSMEs, the resolutions covered a broad spectrum of national concerns. Youth development was a recurring refrain: participants urged young Nigerians to embrace creativity, diligence, and entrepreneurship as shields against the harsh economy.

For me, the conference carried personal significance. At its close, I was entrusted with the role of Public Affairs Director in the new National Executive Council, led by the newly elected National Amir, Imam Nojeem Jimoh, a retired oil and gas executive whose calm authority inspires confidence. It was an honour steeped in responsibility, aligning with The Companion’s sustained mission to combine professional excellence with service to humanity.

The communiqué issued at the end reflected both the seriousness of the deliberations and the optimism that fuels the group’s work. From ratifying a nine-member Board of Trustees for The Companion Zakat and Zadaqah Foundation to granting autonomy to its youth wing, The Dawn, the conference underscored the association’s commitment to renewal and impact.

By the week’s end, I found myself mulling over a simple truth: reunions are far more than social niceties. They are living proof that time may separate us geographically, but shared experiences—whether forged in school classrooms, university lecture halls, or faith-based fellowships—remain potent connectors. Each event that week, in its own way, was a bridge between past and present, carrying both the laughter of youthful adventures and the gravitas of present responsibilities.

At Ede, it was the intimacy of childhood bonds and the joy of seeing how far each had come. In Lagos, it was the strategic alignment of alumni energy towards a shared institutional milestone. In Ilorin, it was the reaffirmation of purpose, rooted in faith and amplified by professional diversity.

Of course, these gatherings also had their lighter side. In Ede, the jokes about who had aged most gracefully and who hadn’t never quite ended. At NRC headquarters, the playful ribbing about radical and rascally students’ leadrers drew chuckles even from the MD.

But beneath the laughter was something enduring: the quiet acknowledgement that these connections—whether to classmates, alumni peers, or faith companions—are invaluable threads in the fabric of our lives. They remind us of where we began, they enrich our present, and they can, if nurtured, shape a better collective future.

As I returned to my desk after the somewhat colourful week, my mind was still warmed by the camaraderie, my spirit buoyed by the celebrations, and my sense of duty sharpened by the responsibilities newly entrusted to me. Fleeting though it was, that week of reunions has left me convinced that while honours and titles may fade with time, the bonds we build and the communities we serve endure far longer

*Akanni is a professor of Journalism and Development Communications at LASU, Nigeria.

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The association expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost, describing the incident as “a temporary setback.”

In a statement by its president, Isiwat A. Lawal, and general secretary, J. J. Ajadi, the association equally reaffirmed its solidarity with Opeifa, noting that his “trajectory of accomplishments — from his role as Transportation Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to his unprecedented coordination of LASTMA in Lagos State — remains a reassuring testament to his competence and energy.”

“We believe Dr Opeifa’s promptness saved the nation from unnecessary embarrassment,” the association said, adding: “Under Dr. Opeifa’s purposeful leadership, we are confident that the NRC will attain enviable heights and deliver excellent services Nigerians will celebrate.”

The association assured Opeifa of its prayers and unwavering support “as he continues to reposition the NRC for greater efficiency and national pride.”

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The Registrar, JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during the 2025 policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions.

The policy meeting was also to discuss the 5th edition (2023 and 2024) of National Tertiary Admissions Performance – Merit Award, NATAP-M.

He said the universities were the most sought-after institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session from the over two million candidates that sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

Out of the top 10 most sought after universities, only the Lagos State University is owned by a state government.

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The nine others are owned by the federal government.

The most subscribed institutions include: LASU with 70,080 applicants, UNILAG with 58,645 applicants, UNILORIN with 56,758 applicants, and Federal University Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE, with 52,108 applicants.

Others are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, with 51,487 applicants; University of Ibadan, UI, with 47,571 applicants; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, with 46,273 applicants and University of Benin, UNIBEN, with 45,868 applicants.

Also on the list are Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, with 45,777 applicants and Federal University, Lafia, with 42,962 applicants.

Source: NAN

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They are Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Prof. Olu Obafemi, and Prof. Musbau Akanji.

The announcement is contained in a statement on Thursday by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun.

Akogun confirmed that the university’s highest decision-making body, at its 304th meeting on Thursday, gave its nod to the appointment of the Emeritus Professors.

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Oloyede retired from the services of the university in October 2024.

He is a former Vice Chancellor of the university and the current Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.

On the other hand, Obafemi is a renowned scholar of English and Dramatic Literature.

He also retired from the services of the University of Ilorin in 2020.

Akanji is a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, and Federal University of Technology, Minna.

He is a renowned scholar of Biochemistry and retired in 2021.

Source: NAN

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, probably paid him the greatest tribute today, on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary.

The President rightly described him as an uncommon scholar and an exceptional administrator.

Very few people will dispute this.

Indeed, Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has made remarkable contributions to the nation through the academia and the public-sector.

As the President noted, his impactful tenure at the University of Ilorin, during which he introduced landmark ideas and innovations helped the institution attain enviable heights.

“Through patriotic dedication and commitment to his craft, Prof Oloyede imparted knowledge and character to thousands of students who underwent his teaching during his glorious and impactful academic career.

“Perhaps more remarkable is Prof. Oloyede’s transformative leadership at JAMB. He pioneered and sustained a series of reforms and technological innovations that have made the admission process in Nigeria transparent and credible.”

Ironically, when he was appointed as the Registrar of JAMB, his constituency, the academia were up in arms. His tenure as the VC of UNILORIN, ASUU UNILORIN argued, didn’t recommend him for such a high appointment.

Mercifully, the appointing authority ignored ASUU’s objection.

The result is the phenomenal achievement that Oloyede has recorded at JAMB.

Indeed, hardly had the man assumed office, when recognitions and honours started coming his way.

First was The Sun newspapers, which in 2019 conferred on him the Public Service Award For 2018.

By popular acclaim, it was an honour well-deserved.

In the same year, the Leadership newspaper, also bestowed on JAMB, the Government Agency of The Year 2018.

The newspaper put in perspective the Oloyede reforms at JAMB.

Let’s quote Leadership:  “The JAMB has been a cesspool of corruption for a long time but nobody knew. Then suddenly, a different kind of man got posted there as Registrar. All of a sudden, within one year, the same JAMB that had been remitting N3 million to the Federal Government annually, remitted over N5 billion. Yes, this is true. That even enabled JAMB to reduce its fees for the teeming Nigerian students who are the main clients of the Government agency. For those inimitable acts, JAMB under Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, is Leadership Government Agency of The Year 2018.”

If remitting N5 billion to the Federal Government in his first year was considered a feat, Oloyede topped it by N2 billion in his second year.

In a country where there is almost a consensus that corruption has become a culture in government agencies, this professor of Islamic studies is showing that JAMB is different.

Corrupt JAMB officials, who colluded with corrupt University officials to sell admission to innocent students were quickly shown the way out of the agency.

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The President captured this when he stated in his tribute:  “In his eight years of stewardship of the Board thus far, Professor Oloyede has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to financial integrity and accountability in public service. He has also raised the bar in administration and management.”

For those of us, who have chosen to hold public office holders to account and who are quick to expose corrupt public officers, it is meet and proper to celebrate an outstanding public officer.

Oloyede is one!

My wishes for Oloyede on this occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary, are that Almighty Allah should grant him good health and long life so that he can be available for higher service to the country.

One thing is certain: by the time this Ogun State-born star leaves office, the refrain would be: Oloyede was here! When comes another?

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As Professor Ishaq Oloyede turns 70 tomorrow, October 10, I pay a special tribute to this astute administrator, educator, author, and scholar, currently the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar.

As the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Oloyede’s invaluable contributions to the nation through academia and public-sector administration have significantly impacted the academic community.

His impactful tenure at the University of Ilorin, during which he introduced landmark ideas and innovations that helped the institution attain enviable heights, is on record.

Through patriotic dedication and commitment to his craft, Prof Oloyede imparted knowledge and character to thousands of students who underwent his teaching during his glorious and impactful academic career.

I pray that Almighty Allah will continue to honour the distinguished professor with health, wisdom and strength to serve the nation for many more years.

Indeed, the bedrock of development lies in education. Developing nations, including Nigeria, are in dire need of more scholars like Prof. Oloyede. His selfless sacrifices and innovative approaches to learning and leadership give hope for a brighter future.

READ ALSO: Oloyede as living expression of positive force, By Tunde Akanni

Perhaps more remarkable is Prof. Oloyede’s transformative leadership at JAMB. He pioneered and sustained a series of reforms and technological innovations that have made the admission process in Nigeria transparent and credible.

In his eight years of stewardship at the board, thus far, Prof. Oloyede has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to financial integrity and accountability in public service. He has also raised the bar in administration and management.

I am proud of Prof. Oloyede’s accomplishments.

The nation owes the Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence a debt of gratitude for transforming JAMB, traditionally a non-revenue-generating government agency, into a consistent contributor to the national treasury through efficient financial management. His contributions to JAMB are invaluable and greatly appreciated.

On this occasion of his 70th birthday, I join members of the academic community, students, JAMB staff, and well-wishers in celebrating this scholar who, in words and deeds, has also done a lot to propagate the Islamic religion.

I pray that Almighty Allah will continue to honour the distinguished professor with health, wisdom and strength to serve the nation for many more years.

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By the time the strong-willed, former Education Minister in the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, Oby Ezekwesili, lent her voice to the controversial JAMB result forgery saga involving a minor from Ananmbra State, I concluded that Nigeria was in for a most interesting time.  The ‘steely’ character had argued that JAMB, rather than the minor involved, fell short of her expectations.

Apparently on account of her supposedly respectable profile including being a pastor of the renowned Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, many Nigerians seemed to believe Ezekwesili. Meanwhile, not many of the former minister’s adherents realized that the far tougher element in JAMB Registrar Oloyede would make Ezekwesili bend or make a full turnaround having failed to access the truth readily available to her from JAMB.  Oloyede earned the credit of upping the ante at the board to clearly make it the most technologically trendy Federal Government board in the education sector.  It was Ezekwesili’s second grand failure after the botched attempt to sell off all the Unity Schools while in office as education minister.

Although Oloyede did not reckon with what may appear as a grand conspiracy by Ezekwesili as someone who should know better, it was yet another reinforcing experience cultivated from his first year as the JAMB Registrar.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the Better By Far University of Ilorin damned the landlocked location of his university to emerge as the most digitech friendly of all times in Nigeria. The visionary was precocious in spotting possible opportunities that should accompany the rather nascent deregulated telecommunication sector.  Promptly, he sought to use it to buoy, at least, the testing capacity of the university. Consequently, UNILORIN, under Prof Oloyede, perfected the unprecedentedly massive deployment of computer-based tests in the early years of undergraduates in that university.

The story of what had been perfected at UNILORIN not only became the talk of the town but one that also emerged as a worthy study for test and evaluation scholars and experts from far and near.  JAMB, under Prof Dibu Ojerinde, moved into UNILORIN for a comprehensive learning of the details.  Thus evolved CBT test for JAMB even as it had to combine that with the paper based test for a few years.

Fate eventually did it. Fate did it for JAMB, literally the entire nation.  The experiment that began from Better By Far university bourgeoned and later yielded heavily for the nation at large. In 2017, the CBT maestro was appointed as the registrar of JAMB.

No time to feel complacent at JAMB in spite of the fulfilling trajectory.  For Oloyede, like many scholars of digitech would wish to postulate and demonstrate, internet as a strand of it should be technology of freedom with limitless capacity to disrupt age old traditions and practice.  Indeed, enthroning new experiences serially is the vision of the new sheriff in town.

Even as IT experts at JAMB and others he keeps attracting to the self-conceived tasks with no less adventurous spirit may be trying to perfect some contraptions, relentless Oloyede would soon throw up another and even another such that even the ultra-talented ones among the IT folks have always wondered on how best to earn Oloyede’s full marks.

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Right in Oloyede’s first year JAMB, he raised the bar.  Mock exam would commence but would be optional.  All eyes were therefore on JAMB as the news hit the town.  Unknown to the leader with uncommon carrying capacity, saboteurs had been insistent on marring the novel layer of exam. It was time to test run the facility for the proposed CBT mock exam and it was discovered that it was far from possible.  Naysayers had dug so deeply into the IT facility that the only option was to postpone the exam.

For JAMB however, the sturdy Septuagenarian with the energy of a young groom, Professor Is’haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has been leading his team from glory to greater glory. Best wishes always sir.

Oloyede that had extracted and re-extracted what seemed like sincere and infallible assurances suddenly became taciturn! However, like Prof Attahiru Jega, the ultra-credible, firebrand, former ASUU leader who later became the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Oloyede had to settle for a humble pie in the face of insurmountable situation. Jega had postponed a national election against all expectation of the electorate and the international community and heaven did not fall. Why not an Oloyede? Oloyede therefore announced the mock exam would be shifted without boring the public with unnecessary details.

But there was no sparing any energy again.  He extended his overture to the best IT folks in town including some hired to service some World Bank projects.  He wanted the best available. Eventually, both the mock exam and the main exam held successfully.

Yet, the JAMB chief examiner was no one to be caught napping in relation to the rule of law.  He carried over the transparency campaign he had initiated at the University of Ilorin. Like UNILORIN, JAMB being a public institution, Prof Oloyede believed, must be subjected to surrender value by promptly rendering reports of its activities, including financials, every blessed week.

Then came a big story which ended up being echoed by virtually all worthy news platforms in the country.  JAMB returned N5 billion being the excess of the earnings from the sales of forms and allied services. It was unprecedented.  Indeed, it exceeded all of the returns ever turned in since the inception of the board. Transparency at JAMB had, under the inimitable Oloyede come to set a new standard for the country. Tongues wagged ceaselessly.  Salutations by the young and old patriots went viral across social media platforms.  Many began to wonder loudly on the need to query past JAMB leadership.

For Oloyede, it was not about personal pride but simply expressive of his life as a responsible academic with towering standing who is also a muslim, if you like a responsible family man and community leader.  Oloyede till date is the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.  It should also interest us to note here that, together with Bishop Father Kukah representing the Christian community, Oloyede co-secretary of the National Conference set up by the President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

Participating in the conference for Oloyede was obviously neither mere jaw-jaw nor some cheap opportunity for self-enrichment.  Everyone should be able to walk their talk. Rather than allow himself to get soaked in the eulogies resultant from the N5 billion returns, Oloyede forged ahead to strengthen JAMB as institution that should be able to weather unpredictable failings such as had undermined the maiden mock exam and some other processes of the Board.

Interestingly, Oloyede’s consistent insistence on either the best or nothing mantra has never taken away anything from his team-player compliance even as he makes efforts to fulfil diverse civilizational aspirations.  Beginning with the very first examination he conducted in 2017, he democratized the entire process ensuring gender balancing as well with invigilators and other exam officials duly recruited from all relevant spheres.

Not given to playing any petty god in any context, he literally elevated your’s sincerely and others to the level of ‘Registrar-in-Council’.  Membership of my team, (subject to annual rejig on merit) was to avail him standby back-up for the entire duration of exam annually. A team of tested scholars and highly experienced administrators, no fewer than six of that team had served or currently serving as Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, Deputy Registrars of Nigeria’s leading universities around the country. My team, till date (most delighted to have been signed on for the  2024 exam as I write) is always saddled with the responsibility of maintaining minute-by-minute contact with all centres nationwide and expected to update the registrar on the wellness or otherwise of the conduct of the examination. And we’re always delightfully equipped to achieve that.

The said Registrar-in-Council, like the boss of the board has no closing time especially on challenging days and day one and day two of exams must be deemed so annually even as we are often pleasantly surprised.  No year again has presented any extremely tasking experience as that of 2017 when we had to work all-night!   Although all efforts are often mustered to ensure zero hitch, my team routinely lives the Boys Scout motto of “Be Prepared” to stall any eventuality that may result from the Shakespearian proclamation that “Since the hope of man hangs in the balance, let’s reason with the worst.”

For JAMB however, the sturdy Septuagenarian with the energy of a young groom, Professor Is’haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has been leading his team from glory to greater glory. Best wishes always sir.

The post Oloyede as living expression of positive force, By Tunde Akanni appeared first on Frontpageng.

Their offences ranged from misconduct, theft, examination malpractice, hostel bed-space racketeering, extortion and assault to admission racketeering.

Those expelled included six final year students, the varsity’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, stated in Ilorin on Monday.

“The expulsion or rustication of the affected students followed the recommendations of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee at its 220th/221st meeting,’’ he stated.

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Majority of the students expelled were either in their first year, second, third, or fourth year in school.

While some of the students were expelled, others were rusticated either for one academic session or for one semester.

Source: NAN

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