Former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has said he will return to teaching and religious activities after completing his tenure at the board, revealing that one of his priorities is to seek God’s forgiveness after spending 10 years in public office.
He made the disclosure while handing over to his successor, Prof. Segun Aina, during an event on Friday.
Oloyede also defended the board’s decision to impose a three-year ban on a 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate, Mmesoma Ejikeme, over the manipulation of her examination result.
According to him, his years in office exposed him to situations that tested his personal values and spiritual life, leaving him convinced that he now needs time for reflection, repentance and renewed commitment to his faith.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Oloyede said he would return to the classroom and devote more time to his religious activities after leaving office. He explained that his decade in public service had affected certain aspects of his spiritual life and personal principles, making it necessary for him to seek God’s forgiveness and accept responsibility for actions taken while in office.
Reflecting on his tenure, Oloyede credited the achievements recorded by JAMB to the dedication and cooperation of the board’s workforce.
He also expressed confidence that the new registrar would build on the reforms implemented during the past decade, saying the successes achieved during his administration were made possible through the collective commitment and hard work of JAMB staff. He added that he was optimistic Prof. Aina would take the board to greater heights.
Oloyede also revisited the controversy involving Mmesoma Ejikeme, maintaining that JAMB acted appropriately when it sanctioned the candidate after discovering that her UTME score had been altered from 249 to 362. He said the board’s action was aimed solely at protecting the integrity of its examination process.
He described Mmesoma as “our daughter” and said the board handled the matter like a responsible parent correcting a child rather than acting out of malice.
Oloyede said the board harboured no ill feelings towards the candidate, adding that its only regret was that she altered her result. He noted that although many Nigerians were initially misled into believing her claims, those who supported her accepted the truth once the facts emerged.
He further expressed regret that many people initially believed the false narrative surrounding the case because parents naturally want to trust their children. However, he said the eventual revelation of the facts vindicated JAMB’s position and affirmed the board’s actions.