In Nigeria’s higher education landscape, few individuals command as much credibility and public respect as Prof. Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede. As Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), he has led transformative reforms that have reshaped the country’s university admission system. The facts below paint a clear, compelling portrait of a scholar‑administrator whose impact stretches from academic excellence to institutional integrity and nationwide digital modernisation.
1. Prof. Oloyede graduated First Class in Arabic Language and Literature from the University of Ilorin in 1981.
2. He went on to earn a Master’s in Islamic Studies in 1985 and a PhD in Islamic Jurisprudence in 1991, all at the same institution.
3. He became a full Professor in 1995 and later served as Vice‑Chancellor of the University of Ilorin from 2007 to 2012.
4. Under his leadership, UNILORIN became one of the most stable and academically efficient universities in Nigeria, maintaining uninterrupted academic calendars and embracing ICT integration.
5. Beyond Nigeria, Prof. Oloyede has held leadership roles in key higher education networks: President of the Association of African Universities, Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities, Deputy Chairman of the International Association of Universities, and board member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
6. Appointed by then-President Muhammadu Buhari, he assumed formal office on 9 August 2016. From the outset, he began a sweeping reform agenda to rehabilitate JAMB’s operations and credibility.
7. Prof. Oloyede introduced full Computer-Based Testing (CBT), biometric authentication, the IBASS (Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System), e‑ticketing, e‑slips, and CCTV monitoring across exam centres, minimising human interaction and curbing malpractice at scale.
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
8. Creator of CAPS—A Merit-Centred Admissions System
He launched the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), which automates tertiary institution admissions, ensuring transparency, accountability, quota control, and candidate empowerment. CAPS eliminated backdoor admissions and standardised the process for the first time.
9. Under his leadership, JAMB’s revenue increased significantly. Between 2017 2022, JAMB remitted N27.2 billion to the federal government. In 2024, 4 billion naira was remitted.
10. He holds the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) since 2014 and was conferred Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2022. Additional honours include the National Productivity Order of Merit (2019), Icon of Education Transformation, and Integrity Public Servant Personality awards.
11. He was born on October 10, 1954 in Abeokuta.
12. Professor Oloyede was the first alumnus of the University of Ilorin to become its Vice Chancellor.
13. His administration also witnessed the establishment of the first campus radio station in the entire North-Central zone of the country, the Unilorin FM radio, in 2009.
14. Professor Oloyede also instituted the weekly publication of the University’s financial transaction report in the University Bulletin as a mark of his prudence and transparency.
15. Prof. Oloyede has championed a unified model of tertiary education assessment, advocating for synergy between universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education in admission standards and quality assurance.
