Ilorin, Nigeria – May 15, 2025
The University of Ilorin has hailed the leadership style of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is’haq Oloyede, following his transparent and empathetic handling of the recent technical glitch experienced during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Reacting to the public apology issued by the JAMB Registrar to affected candidates on Wednesday, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), praised Prof. Oloyede’s rare display of responsibility and humility.
In a statement released on Thursday by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, Professor Egbewole stated, “Only a conscientious, sincere, and courageous leader with genuine compassion for the welfare of the people he serves could openly take responsibility for an incident surrounding the service delivery of an organisation he heads — especially when the glitch was not a result of his personal negligence.”
The Vice Chancellor noted that Prof. Oloyede’s conduct stands in sharp contrast to the typical responses of many leaders who, under similar circumstances, would resort to excuses or deflection. “His readiness to take the blame shows a deep awareness that the buck stops at his desk,” he said.
Moved by the integrity displayed, Prof. Egbewole described the JAMB Registrar’s actions as a testament to true leadership. “It is not every leader that owns up to mistakes and even takes responsibility for the infractions of others,” he added.
The Vice Chancellor, however, expressed that he was not surprised by the dignified response, noting that Prof. Oloyede, a distinguished alumnus and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (2007–2012), is a product of the institution’s enduring values of integrity, responsibility, and service.
“As a total product of the University of Ilorin, Professor Oloyede has always embodied the leadership ideals we cherish, right from his days as an undergraduate to his time as a staff member and later, as our 8th Vice Chancellor. His track record speaks volumes,” Egbewole affirmed.
The university concluded by encouraging public office holders across Nigeria to emulate Professor Oloyede’s principled approach to leadership and accountability.