JAMB at a Crossroads: a Thoughtful Note to Prof. Ishaq Oloyede

By Olayinka Iroye

The controversy surrounding the recently released 2025 UTME results has reopened old wounds and brought longstanding concerns about the operations of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to the forefront of national discourse. The unusually low scores recorded by many candidates and the emotional turmoil that followed have sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for accountability and reform.

Though JAMB has offered explanations, the public backlash is about more than just scores. It is a reflection of deep-seated frustration over policies implemented under the leadership of Professor Ishaq Oloyede. While there is no doubt about the Professor’s commitment to duty and diligence, his approach has often been viewed as overly rigid, lacking empathy, and out of touch with the realities faced by young Nigerians and their families.

One of such policies is the enforcement of the age requirement for university admissions. For decades, underage candidates, many as young as 15 had been offered admissions without hindrance. But under Prof. Oloyede’s tenure, JAMB began to strictly enforce the policy barring candidates below 16 years from gaining admission into universities. Though legally grounded, this sudden shift disrupted the dreams of many high-performing students who were subsequently denied admission after scaling the UTME hurdle. The backlash from parents and guardians was swift and enduring. To date, many of them have not forgiven the Registrar for what they consider an unnecessarily harsh application of an old rule.

Equally troubling is the plight of HND graduates who pursued National Diploma (ND) through part-time programs. Because their JAMB registration numbers bear the letter “P”, these graduates have been systematically excluded from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) mobilization despite meeting other requirements. While the Federal Ministry of Education and the NYSC have since taken steps to reverse this policy, thousands of affected graduates remain in limbo, their future plans disrupted by a technicality that was avoidable.

Moreover, the Registrar’s well-documented intolerance for dissent and refusal to reconsider decisions even when public opinion or humanitarian considerations demand it has earned him more critics than admirers. His uncompromising stance on several matters may be commendable from a bureaucratic lens, but it often lacks the human touch needed in educational leadership.

Since I have known Dr. Oloyede, I have never seen anything humble him the way the outcome of this year’s UTME results has. As a cleric, I know he understands deeply that life is full of ups and downs, that no one is exempted from challenges. He has been fortunate in many aspects: academically accomplished, administratively efficient, and spiritually grounded. But this episode is a reminder that successes must be managed with humility, and authority balanced with compassion.

However, all these barrage of complaints and criticism notwithstanding; Nigeria is in dire need of an upright and a focused public servant like Prof. Oloyede. Therefore, this piece does not call for resignation; as there is no need for that now, but it is an affirmation that no leader is too big for correction. The present uproar over the 2025 UTME should only serve as a call for a moment of reflection. Prof. Oloyede should consider rolling back or reviewing some of these contentious policies. Leadership is not just about enforcement; it is also about compassion, dialogue, and adaptation.

A sincere effort to make restitution especially to those whose educational paths were upended will go a long way in rebuilding public trust. It will also signal to Nigerians that JAMB is not just an exam board but an institution that values fairness, mental well-being, and equal opportunity.

As the storm rages, it is time for a pause, a listening ear, and a human face. Our students deserve no less, and so does the future of this nation.

May the course of education not fail in Nigeria.