Oloyede hands over to 40-year-old Segun Aina as JAMB registrar

The outgoing Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, on Friday, handed over to Prof. Segun Aina as the new boss of the examination body.

President Bola Tinubu had, on May 21, appointed Aina, who was 39 years old at the time, as the substantive JAMB registrar to succeed Oloyede.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja, Oloyede said strong institutions built on integrity, technology, and transparency remained the key to sustaining public confidence in tertiary admissions system.

He said the board’s achievements were anchored on five cardinal principles of staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency and networking, which guided reforms that strengthened the credibility of JAMB’s operations.

He added that staff welfare received unprecedented attention during his tenure through improved working conditions, rehabilitation and construction of office facilities across the country, and enhanced retirement benefits.

Oloyede said: “When I stood at the threshold of this national assignment 10 years ago, I understood the depth of the responsibility placed on me.

“I knew the privilege and burden of stewarding a process that opens the doors to millions of Nigerians.

“One thing I remembered clearly was that I was just like a general on a military expedition and to fight, I needed officers and troops.”

Recounting his achievements, Oloyede disclosed that JAMB committed more than N8 billion to strengthen employees’ retirement savings and financial security.

He added that JAMB under his leadership also introduced a 13th-month salary, increased examination-duty incentives from 10 per cent to 20 per cent and provided daily meals for staff.

The outgoing registrar disclosed retired workers received benefits ranging from N3 million to N10 million, while medical interventions and performance-based rewards were also introduced to boost staff morale.

Oloyede, however, stressed that improved welfare did not diminish the board’s commitment to discipline.

Aina takes over as JAMB registrar, vows crackdown on exam malpractice

He said more than 10 members of staff faced prosecution over various allegations of misconduct, noting that accountability remained non-negotiable in preserving the integrity of the institution.

He urged stakeholders to support the new registrar, saying the success of any institution depends not on an individual but on the strength of its systems and values.

In his inaugural address, Aina pledged to preserve JAMB’s integrity while building a stronger institution driven by professionalism, accountability and continuous innovation.

Aina, who is the youngest person to serve as JAMB registrar, said the board’s credibility must never depend on one individual but on enduring systems, partnerships and a workforce committed to excellence.

He pledged to intensify efforts against examination malpractice, warning that JAMB would continue to deploy technology and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to detect, deter and prosecute offenders.

The new JAMB boss said: “My responsibility is to provide leadership that allow those ideas to flourish, replacing bureaucracy with service, replacing personalities with enduring systems.

“It is about creating an environment where talented people can do their work. It is about replacing fear with purpose, and replacing uncertainty with trust.

“Leadership, in my view, is not about becoming the smartest person in the room. That is the kind of leadership I intend to offer.”

Aina assured candidates, parents, and tertiary institutions that JAMB would continue to uphold fairness, transparency and merit in the admission process, while improving service delivery and reducing the stress experienced by its customers.

He added that every decision of the new management would be guided by the need to protect the dreams of millions of Nigerian candidates who rely on JAMB as the gateway to higher education.