‘Like Is’Haq Oloyede – Be Better By Far’ By Uthman Bagbansoro
When Emeritus Professor Ladipo Akinkugbe conceptualised the University of Ilorin’s motto — Probitas Doctrina (Learning and Character) — he had in mind “An institution that has as its main forte; the training of high-level manpower in a way to ensure that the products are deeply committed to serve and think more of giving to their nation than taking from it.”
Akinkugbe, in his rare ingenuity also had in mind, “an academic community that blends with the aspirations of the society in which it’s nurtured, where town meets gown, and one that gives high premium to hard work and integrity in private and public life.
Professor Is’haq Oloyede has exemplified the importance of that motto. He hasn’t only been deeply committed to the service of nation but also gave back to his society.
Oloyede is a thoroughbred Unilorite. In 1981, he was awarded a First Class Honours, bachelors degree in Arabic studies, a feat which made him become the first University of Ilorin graduate with a first class.
In 1982, he was appointed an assistant lecturer in the Department of Religions in the University. He went on to nick a PhD in Islamic studies from his Alma mater; Unilorin.
He rose like a first class product that he was through the academic ranks to become a professor at the age of 41 (a rare feat at the time). He was appointed Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & Management) till he eventually became the Vice Chancellor of his Alma mater 11 years later.
When President Muhammadu Buhari reappointed Professor Is’haq Oloyede for a second tenure of 5 years on August 20, I wasn’t caught by surprise. In fact, I saw it coming because when public-driven servants like Oloyede are appointed into government offices, intelligent leaders do not allow them go; they’re returned to continue the work they have begun nay perfect the reforms they might have introduced.
As the University of Ilorin’s Spokesman, Kunle Akogun, has rightly posited, “Oloyede has so sanitised the operations of the tertiary Institutions admission body in five years that it seems that the 44 years old board has never been in any tangible operational existence before 2016.” Call that the “Oloyede effect”.
Oloyede instituted an enhanced welfare scheme for the board staffers to boost thier morale, he reduced JAMB’s registration fee, he scrapped the traditional scratch card method of checking results, the commencement of Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) for regularisation of admission process; Merits only, the use of biometric authentication to confirm validity of registration and introduction of surveillance to mitigate malpractices. These actions are all noteworthy.
The JAMB is not a revenue raking agency but here are the Oloyede’s figures: Between 2010 and 2016, JAMB remitted about N50.7 million to the Federal Government but in 2017 alone, Oloyede remitted N5 billion, yes N5 billion, that is 10 times what was remitted by the preceding administration in six years.
Let us look at more figures of remittances. In 2011, it was N11.5 million, in 2013 it was N25.3 million. According to the Accountant General’s office there were no remittances at all in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. But under Oloyede, JAMB was turned into a cash cow generating revenue for the Government.
Between 2016 and 2020, Oloyede remitted a staggering N28 billion to the government even though during this period, he had actually reduced the fee for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from N5, 000 to N3, 500 in 2017.
Oloyede is Better By Far, he has justified that: Not everyone is a thief; Not everyone is a plunderer. With public servants like him, confidence is rekindled in Nigeria.
Bagbansoro Uthman Olamilekan
Twitter: @The_Bagbansoro
[email protected]
