Outgoing JAMB Registrar Professor Is-haq Oloyede has reflected on his 10-year tenure, opening up on the controversial Mmesoma Ejikeme examination scandal, the board’s massive investment in staff welfare, and the sweeping technological reforms that redefined Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Oloyede said the board’s achievements were built on five core principles: staff welfare, discipline, technology, transparency, and networking.
On staff welfare, Oloyede disclosed that JAMB committed more than N8 billion to strengthen employees’ retirement savings and financial security during his tenure. The board also introduced a 13th-month salary, increased examination duty incentives from 10 percent to 20 percent, and provided daily meals for staff. Retired workers received benefits ranging from N3 million to N10 million, while medical interventions and performance-based rewards were also introduced.
Despite the welfare focus, Oloyede stressed that discipline was never compromised, noting that more than 10 members of staff faced prosecution for misconduct during his tenure.
On technology, he said JAMB expanded the use of biometrics, digital verification, CCTV surveillance, and remote monitoring systems to improve examination security.
“At the heart of our operational blueprint is technology, and we owe many of our far-reaching reforms to innovative technologies,” he said.
Addressing the Mmesoma scandal, in which the 2023 UTME candidate inflated her score from 249 to 362, Oloyede said he had no regrets over the board’s decision to impose a three-year ban on her.
“No hard feelings. If there is any regret, it is that she did what she did because she is part of us. We did what we should do,” he said.
He described Mmesoma as “our daughter” and said the punishment was not out of wickedness but to serve as a deterrent to others.
“I am happy that at the end of the day, we have been vindicated. Of course, that does not remove the punishment she had to serve. It’s not out of wickedness, but in order to serve as a deterrent,” Oloyede said.
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