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  • Oloyede as living expression of positive force 

    Oloyede as living expression of positive force 

    By Tunde Akanni PhD

    By the time the strong-willed, former Education Minister in the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, Oby Ezekwesili, lent her voice to the controversial JAMB result forgery saga involving a minor from Anambra State, I concluded that Nigeria was in for a most interesting time.  The ‘steely’ character had argued that JAMB, rather than the minor involved, fell short of her expectations.

    Apparently on account of her supposedly respectable profile including being a pastor of the renowned Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, many Nigerians seemed to believe Ezekwesili. Meanwhile, not many of the former minister’s adherents realized that the far tougher element in JAMB Registrar Oloyede would make Ezekwesili bend or make a full turnaround having failed to access the truth readily available to her from JAMB.  Oloyede earned the credit of upping the ante at the board to clearly make it the most technologically trendy Federal Government board in the education sector.  It was Ezekwesili’s second grand failure after the botched attempt to sell off all the Unity Schools while in office as education minister.

    Although Oloyede did not reckon with what may appear as a grand conspiracy by Ezekwesili as someone who should know better, it was yet another reinforcing experience cultivated from his first year as the JAMB Registrar.

    The former Vice-Chancellor of the Better By Far University of Ilorin damned the landlocked location of his university to emerge as the most digitech friendly of all times in Nigeria. The visionary was precocious in spotting possible opportunities that should accompany the rather nascent deregulated telecommunication sector.  Promptly, he sought to use it to buoy, at least, the testing capacity of the university. Consequently, UNILORIN, under Prof Oloyede perfected the unprecedentedly massive deployment of  computer based tests in the early years of undergraduates in that university.

    The story of what had been perfected at UNILORIN not only became the talk of the town but one that  also emerged as a worthy study for  test and evaluation scholars and experts from far and near.  JAMB, under Prof Dibu Ojerinde, moved into UNILORIN for a comprehensive learning of the details.  Thus evolved CBT test for JAMB even as it had to combine that with the paper based test for a few years.

    Fate eventually did it. Fate did it for JAMB, literally the entire nation.  The experiment that began from Better By Far University bourgeoned and later yielded heavily for the nation at large. In 2017, the CBT maestro was appointed as the registrar of JAMB. 

    No time to feel complacent at JAMB in spite of the fulfilling trajectory.  For Oloyede, like many scholars of digitech would wish to postulate and demonstrate, internet as a strand of it should be technology of freedom with limitless capacity to disrupt age old traditions and practice.  Indeed, enthroning new experiences serially is the vision of the new sheriff in town.

    Even as IT experts at JAMB and others he keeps attracting to the self-conceived tasks with no less adventurous spirit may be trying to perfect some contraptions, relentless Oloyede would soon throw up another and even another such that even the ultra-talented ones among the IT folks have always wondered on how best to earn Oloyede’s full marks.

    Right in Oloyede’s first year JAMB, he raised the bar.  Mock exam would commence but would be optional.  All eyes were therefore on JAMB as the news hit the town.  Unknown to the leader with uncommon carrying capacity, saboteurs had been insistent on marring the novel layer of exam. It was time to test run the facility for the proposed CBT mock exam and it was discovered that it was far from possible.  Naysayers had dug so deeply into the IT facility that the only option was to postpone the exam. 

    Oloyede that had extracted and re-extracted  what seemed like sincere  and infallible assurances suddenly became taciturn! However, like Prof Attahiru Jega, the ultra-credible, firebrand, former ASUU leader who later became the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Oloyede had to settle for a humble pie in the face of insurmountable situation. Jega had postponed a national election against all expectation of the electorate and theinternational community and heaven did not fall. Why not an Oloyede? Oloyede therefore  announced the mock exam would be shifted without boring the public with unnecessary details.

    But there was no sparing any energy again.  He extended his overture to the best IT folks in town including some hired to service some World Bank projects.  He wanted the best available. Eventually, both the mock exam and the main exam held successfully.

    Yet, the JAMB chief examiner was no one to be caught napping in relation to the rule of law.  He carried over the transparency campaign he had initiated at the University of Ilorin. Like UNILORIN, JAMB being a public institution, Prof Oloyede believed, must be subjected to surrender value by promptly rendering reports of its activities, including financials, every blessed week.

    Then came a big story which ended up being echoed by virtually all worthy news platforms in the country.  JAMB returned N5billion Naira being the excess of the earnings from the sales of forms and allied services. It was unprecedented.  Indeed, it exceeded all of the returns ever turned in since the inception of the  board. Transparency at JAMB had, under the inimitable Oloyede come to set a new standard for the country. Tongues wagged ceaselessly.  Salutations by the young and old patriots went viral across social media platforms.  Many began to wonder loudly on the need to query past JAMB leadership. 

     For Oloyede, it was not about personal pride but simply expressive of his life as a responsible academic with towering standing who is also a muslim, if you like a responsible family man and community leader.  Oloyede till date is the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.  It should also interest us to note here that, together with Bishop Father Kukah representing the Christian community, Oloyede co-secretary of the National Conference set up by the President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.

    Participating in the conference for Oloyede was obviously neither mere jawjaw nor some cheap opportunity for self-enrichment.  Everyone should be able to walk their talk. Rather than allow himself to get soaked in the eulogies resultant from the N5billion returns, Oloyede forged ahead to strengthen JAMB as institution that should be able to weather unpredictable failings such as had undermined the maiden mock exam and some other processes of the Board.

    Interestingly, Oloyede’s consistent insistence on either the best or nothing mantra has never taken away anything from his team-player compliance even as he makes efforts to fulfil diverse civilizational aspirations.  Beginning with the very first examination he conducted in 2017, he democratized the entire process ensuring gender balancing as well with invigilators and other exam officials duly recruited from all relevant spheres.

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    Not given to playing any petty god in any context, he literally elevated your’s sincerely and others to the level of ‘Registrar-in-Council’.  Membership of my team, (subject to annual rejig on merit) was to avail him standby back-up for the entire duration of exam annually. A team of tested scholars and highly experienced administrators, no fewer than six of that team had served or currently serving as Vice-Chancellors, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, Deputy Registrars of Nigeria’s leading universities around the country. My team, till date(most delighted to have been signed on for the  2024 exam as I write) is always saddled with the responsibility of maintaining minute-by-minute contact with all centres nationwide and expected to update the registrar on the wellness or otherwise of the conduct of the examination. And we’re always delightfully equipped to achieve that.

    The said Registrar-in-Council, like the boss of the board has no closing time especially on challenging days and day one  and day two of exams must be deemed so annually even as we are often pleasantly surprised.  No year again has presented any extremely tasking experience as that of of 2017 when we had to work all-night!   Although all efforts are often mustered to ensure zero hitch, my team routinely lives the Boys Scout motto of “Be Prepared” to stall any eventuality that may result from the Shakespearian proclamation that “Since the hope of man hangs in the balance, let’s reason with the worst”. 

    For JAMB however, the sturdy Septuagenarian with the energy of a young groom, Professor Is’haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has been leading his team from glory to greater glory. Best wishes always sir.

  • Oloyede, truly divine

    Oloyede, truly divine

    • His unending transformation of JAMB as seen in 2024 UTME transcends human comprehension

    This year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has come and gone. But, unlike many years ago when we would still have been reviewing the exercise several weeks after, because of the too-numerous-to-be-ignored lapses and irregularities, many Nigerians have put the 2024 examination behind them, so soon. This is because of the meticulous way JAMB has been conducting the examination, especially since Prof. Ishaq Oloyede took over as Registrar/Chief Executive Officer in August 2016.

     Oloyede, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, described his appointment by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as “divine”, when he assumed duty. And, as if that was a prophecy of sort, his roles at the board have proved to be truly divine, having started to rewrite the JAMB narrative, particularly as regards its core responsibility of organising the annual UTME. The transformation that the examination and the entire JAMB as an institution has witnessed in the last seven years and still counting is, simply put, phenomenal.

    Oloyede stunned Nigerians when in his first year, he turned in into the Federal Government’s coffers a whopping N7.8 billion, a thing that the then finance minister found difficult to believe and indeed felt there must have been a mistake somewhere because JAMB never attained anything near that before. It not only failed in its core mandate, it was always a source of loss to government (‘ko se dee de, o tun short ijoba’).

    But, there was no mistake anywhere. Oloyede actually remitted that much in barely one year in office. Since then he has continued to remit billions into the government’s coffers. As at 2022, the board had remitted N50 billion, apart from about six billion Naira it spent to acquire some property.

    This huge remittance that he recorded in his first year was one of the things that shot him into limelight. Then, his zero tolerance for corruption.

    Interestingly, huge remittances would now seem to be taking a backstage in the JAMB or Oloyede narrative not because the remittances have stopped but because the Oloyede phenomenon is not just about making the government smile to the bank; continual improvement in the conduct of its core assignment, the UTME, is also of paramount importance to this scholar who has carved a name for himself as not just an administrative maestro, but also as a financial wizard.

    Oloyede’s stellar performance in his first term made his reappointment to ”continue the good works” he started in JAMB a mere formality. This writer recalls in one session he had with journalists, I think somewhere in Abuja, I asked him shortly before his reappointment what he would do if he was ‘promoted upstairs’ as a result of the very many big toes some of his policies might have stepped on. His answer was that from the classroom he came; and to the classroom he would return.

    Ordinarily, this would have been a rhetorical question if performance was the sole determinant of such renewal of mandate. But, in Nigeria, some other considerations could have led to his being taken away from JAMB elsewhere, so that some of the people who could not stomach his earth-shaking reforms in JAMB, could breathe. Thank God, common sense lived up to its name as his reappointment was confirmed by the Buhari government effective August 1, 2021.

    One thing that has continued to work in favour of the JAMB boss is his ability to weather storms. It is not easy to fight corruption which is endemic in virtually all spheres of our national life, not excluding JAMB. We remember the story of the JAMB woman who told us how a snake swallowed JAMB’s N36 million! We also remember the numerous stories of people that had been profiteering from illegal conducts in the UTME until Oloyede came and put a stop to their nefarious activities.

    But if people are celebrating Oloyede today, Oloyede too would be given the credit to both Allah and IT. Indeed, if ever some people used information technology (IT) for the benefit of mankind, Oloyede is definitely one of such people. For me, even the question of whether an IT expert could have better deployed IT in the service of JAMB, with the same degree of integrity than Oloyede, is debatable. As a matter of fact, if his background as

    professor of Islamic Studies had been the sole consideration at the point of his appointment, he probably would not have got the job in the first place. And, sorry to say, Nigeria would have been the loser.

    Oloyede’s untiring effort in the application of IT has tremendously facilitated the discharge of his duties in JAMB. IT has helped tremendously in the rendering of weekly accounts in JAMB, thus making the board one of the truly transparent public institutions in Nigeria.

    Thanks to IT, many aspects of the examination have witnessed several metamorphoses since the advent of Oloyede. From the assessment and placement landscape, the procedure for the new channels for acceptance of admissions by candidates, etc. Technology continues to play a major role in eliminating the loopholes exploited by professional exam writers with the deployment of the latest innovations that are always steps ahead of the cheats.

    At present, JAMB conducts examination in nine foreign centres: Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Buea, Cameroon; Cotonou, Republic of Benin; London, United Kingdom; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Johannesburg, South Africa. This aims at marketing our institutions to the outside world as well as ensuring that our universities reflect the universality of academic traditions, among others.

    But this piece is not essentially about celebrating Oloyede. There is also the need to provide answers to some Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) about UTME and JAMB , especially given the misconceptions about certain aspects of their operations. One is this idea of classifying some candidates as  having failed the examination simply because they scored what we consider low marks in the UTME and would therefore not gain admission. For instance, the result of the UTME as released by JAMB this year showed that 8,401 candidates or 0.5 per cent of the total scored 300 and above; 77,070 (4.2 per cent) scored 250 and above and 439,974 (24 per cent) got 200 and above. The remaining 1,402,490 candidates (76 per cent) scored below 200. Some see this as a steady decline in the standard of education in the country while others even see it as a result of the inadequate preparations by JAMB, especially with a few hiccups during the examination.

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    The fact of the matter is that UTME score is only one leg of the admission criteria into tertiary institutions in the country. There are also the mandatory five credits, including Mathematics and English Language. It should be noted that not all the 1.9million candidates who sat for the UTME this year already have their five credits, including the mandatory two subjects.

    Then often, ‘passing’ or ‘failing’ UTME is also a function of several other factors.

    Even as we speak, some of the first grade federal universities in the country, including the University of Ilorin, have fixed 180 as their cut-off mark, this year. This only means that this is the irreducible minimum that they would accept from prospective undergraduates into their institution. But then, scoring 180 does not automatically guarantee admission into those universities. It depends also on the course of study. A candidate who scored even 250 may not be offered admission into a particular tertiary institution if the course he or she happens to be interested in is very competitive, like Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, Mass Communication, etc. Unfortunately, these are courses that many candidates run after and many of them end up not being admitted, not necessarily because they ‘failed’ UTME but because the spaces in their desired courses are limited and therefore would go only to those with the highest scores. Meanwhile, there are several vacant spaces waiting to be filled in a course like Agriculture and some other programmes that are less competitive.

    This is where the question of unscrupulous parents come in. Many parents want their children to be lawyers, doctors, engineers and so on, even when the children lack the capacity to pursue such programmes. Rather than accept their fate, or take reasonable measures to improve their children’s performance, some of these parents, particularly those with means, are ready to do everything, in order to get them into the tertiary institutions, often buying their way through. They had succeeded severally in the past; but no more under the Oloyede management. As a matter of fact, JAMB had to ban parents from escorting their children to examination centres this year because of the activities of such unscrupulous parents.

    Of no less importance is the subject combination that many candidates do not get right. There is also the post-UTME to consider.

    What all of these FAQs and misconceptions tell us is that JAMB must continue to enlighten stakeholders on all these aspects of its operations so as to dispel unnecessary rumours and avoid putting on its head loads that are not its own.

    The beauty of the UTME, at least since Oloyede took over, is that gradually, there has been some correlation between what many candidates scored in UTME and their post-UTME examination. Indeed,  some of the candidates who did not do well in UTME had also been found to have been unable to conclude even their first semester in the universities, whereas those who scored high grades in UTME have also been found to have been doing well in their secondary schools and the universities, when subsequently offered admission. This has been made possible by the strict processes put in place by JAMB; a thing that is making some universities even now contemplating whether there is any further basis for post-UTME, given the high integrity of the examination.

    Of course, as with all human endeavours, perfection is usually a tall order. In an examination that about two million candidates sat for, there would always be a few hitches, even in the best of climes. It would be unfair to say JAMB was not well prepared in an examination where only one of the 777 CBT centres failed. What more? Generally, in genuine cases where candidates did not get value for their money in the conduct of the examination, they were allowed a second chance. If only about 78 cases of examination misconduct were recorded in the same exam, involving largely impersonation, then there is something positive to say of the UTME. It tells something about the steps that the board has been taking over the years to curb these malpractices. 

    It is the continual innovations by JAMB that made this year’s UTME rank as ”one of the most innovative versions in the annals of Computer-Based Testing by the board”, to quote Prof Oloyede.

    In all, saying that the Oloyede-led JAMB has done very well so far is an understatement. But, as it is always agreed, room for improvement there always will be.   

  • Why Islamic organisations were formed, by Oloyede

    Why Islamic organisations were formed, by Oloyede

    Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof Ishaq Oloyede, has said that formation of Islamic organisations was to check the influence of Western civilization brought by the missionaries.

    He spoke in Lagos during the Century Lecture to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah of Nigeria.

    Oloyede, who is also the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), said forming Islamic organisations became a necessity to preserve the Islamic cultures from eroding

    According to him, the practice of setting up Islamic organisations is not only in Nigeria but in other countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Mali, among others.

    He said as far back as 1914, several Islamic organizations were formed to check what he called imperialism by the colonialists.

    “Muslims worldwide saw that the imperial government would wipe them off and they came up with the idea of setting up one group or the other to promote the beauty of Islam and be part of the global movement,” he said.

    Oloyede recalled that the founding fathers of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah were conversant with contemporary global issues despite their level of education.

    According to him, their concern was to safeguard the future of Islam and the Muslims, especially the younger ones.

    Oloyede, however, urged leaders of Islamic organisations to go back to the drawing board and learn from the founding fathers the ideal and pristine Islamic principles which they propagated.

    He said they should learn to understand the language of the present generation of Muslim children which he referred to as ‘Gen Z’ to eradicate the moral decadence in the society.

    Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Noimot Salako, said the story of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah reflects resilience, growth and unwavering dedication to principles.

    “We are not merely acknowledging a century of existence; we are celebrating a legacy, a testament to the enduring spirit and commitment of the founders and members of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah… Through trials and triumphs, our predecessors laid the foundation upon which we stand today. They sowed the seeds of a movement, fostering a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood that has become the hallmark of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah.”

    Mrs Salako, an engineer, tasked the organisation with youth engagement and funding, noting they are a major groundwork for the future.

    “We should engage directly with the youths where they are likely to be; on TikTok, IG, Reddit etc. If we check this audience, the number of under 40s will be quite low. How will the youth get these messages? Similarly, without funding, all the noble plans of the association will be pipe dreams,” she said.

    The Deputy Governor also urged members of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah to take the centenary celebration as a moment of reflection, gratitude and renewed commitment.

    Former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Lai Olurode charged Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah to embrace a cosmopolitan orientation in its operations and promote its membership drive.

    The retired Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos noted that Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah is not visible enough in the establishment of Islamic and Western school systems, which he called a major tool of propagation and ideology.

    “On key variables and in comparison to the other sister organizations established around the second decade of the twentieth century, the Jama’at is just above average, majorly present in Lagos and its suburbs. The Jama’at is not visible enough in the establishment of madrassah (a major tool of propaganda and ideology) and even the modern school system. The Jama’at lost an opportunity to be the sole proprietor of the Muslim International School, Moleefon, Iwo.

    “It is also imperative for the Jama’at to open up to tolerate competitiveness and a cosmopolitan orientation in place of a provincial outlook – promote common/universal instead of fractured/limited membership (no to Lagosians versus others),” he said.

    Olurode meanwhile commended the organisation for rising to challenge the hostility of the colonial authorities towards the local population, especially Muslims.

    “The colonial state was exploitative and ruthless and was generally hostile toward the local population and Muslims particularly. It displayed ambivalence towards the education of Muslims. There was a blossoming of Islamic organizations in response to marginalization and discriminatory treatment. The coming of government Muslims schools did not assuage the feelings of exclusion felt by the Muslims.”

    President of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah, Hashim Oyekan, an engineer, lauded the dedication of the founding fathers of the organisation, noting that the contributions of the organisation cannot be overlooked in the development of Islam and Muslims in Nigeria.

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    He said: “This historical milestone connects the past to the future, as we acknowledge the dedication of those who planted the seeds of this great movement a century ago. We serve as the bridge between the past and the future.

    “In reflecting on the development of Islam and Muslims in Lagos and Nigeria, one cannot overlook the significant contributions of Jama-at-ul Islamiyyah of Nigeria, its founder, companions, doctrines, and impact. Today, we honour the memory of the founder, late Alhaji B.L. Agusto, and all dedicated Muslims who served Islam through this Jama’at.”

    He enjoined members to intensify their commitment to the growth of Islam as they mark a new phase for the organisation.

    “As we enter a new phase in the life of our beloved Jama’at, I urge everyone to intensify their commitment to its growth and the advancement of Islam. Let’s elevate our services to the next level, building on the gains made and projecting a sustainable future for the Jama’at. Our values and virtues, inspired by our founding fathers, continue to guide us. Let’s celebrate our 100th anniversary by transmitting these virtues and the Jamaat’s doctrines,” he said.

  • Emulate Balewa, Jakande, Oloyede exemplary lifestyles, says don

    Emulate Balewa, Jakande, Oloyede exemplary lifestyles, says don

    A senior university lecturer, Prof Qudus Amuni, has urged Muslims to be of good example in everywhere they found themselves and learn to be a role models.

    He said the best of role model for Muslims remain Prophet Muhammad and the four prominent Caliphs who came after him.

    Amuni, the Professor of Arabic at the Lagos State University (LASU), gave this charge in his lecture at the Turbaning and Award presentation by the Council of Imam Ratibi and Alfas, Shomolu Muslim Community held at the Shomolu Central Mosque in Lagos.

    The lecture was titled Role of Models in Islamic Leadership.

    He said Nigerians should emulate the likes of late Aminu Kano, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and the current JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyode for their exemplary lifestyles and selfless service to the nation.

    He challenged youths of Shomolu to look up to Prof Abdulateef Oladimeji who emerged from the community and sustaining good legacies of the founding fathers.

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    Chairman on the occassion, Mr Hakeem Bello, who is the Special Adviser Media to the immediate past Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the gathering was to honour the founding fathers of Muslim Community in Shomolu.

    He said that their good deeds have translated into accomplished offsprings coming out of the area.

    Bello spoke on the need for proper Mosque documentations by ensuring that the laws of the state are not infringed upon.

    This, he said, was to avoid some people deciding in future to sell the Mosque or lands allocated for it for the place of worship to remain safe.

    He also urged those in charge of the Somolu Central Mosque to maintain the edifice.

    Bello noted that the federal government is frontally addressing the current challenges while reminding the gathering to be their brother’s keeper and hopeful that things will get better.

    Chairman of Council of Imams Ratibi and Alfas in Somolu, Alhaji Mohammed Taofeek Olumegbon, solicited support for the ongoing Education project in Ikorodu, adding such will go a long way in the realisation of the dream.

    He expressed joy with the turn out at the event saying those who attended had answered the calls of Allah.

    Responding on behalf of the awardees, Prof Oladimeji, who was decorated with  turbban as Ameerul Mumineen, said it was a challenge to him to showcase the beauty of Islam everywhere.

    He dedicated the honour to the Al-Hikmah University.

    Our correspondent reports that other Award recipients include; Alhaji Imam Abdulyekeen Opeloyeru as Seriki Dallailu, Alhaji Shakirudeen Anifowose as Saraki Adeen and Alhaji Abdulrahmon Muyideen who was turbanned as Baba Jomoh.

  • Prepare for challenges of Information Age, Oloyede tells Nigerians

    Prepare for challenges of Information Age, Oloyede tells Nigerians

    • ‘Job seekers need demonstrable skills’

    The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has said those searching for jobs need demonstrable skills to be successful.

    The JAMB boss counselled that university degrees would no longer be a sole guarantee for getting jobs in today’s Information Age.

    Delivering the convocation lecture, titled: Learning, Unlearning and Relearning- Prerequisites of the Digital Age, at the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Ilorin, the state capital, Oloyede urged Nigerians to prepare for the challenges of the ever-changing Information Age.

    He said the citizens needed to take lifelong learning seriously and show genuine willingness to adapt to changing circumstances. 

    The JAMB boss, who noted that learning is useless without practice, described relearning as the ability to acquire new skills, knowledge, and perspectives quickly and effectively. 

    “For all, the imperative of learning, relearning, and unlearning cannot be over-emphasised as the tonic that gives vitality to successful living in today’s Information age. Those who can learn, relearn, and unlearn are the successful ones, and those without the mindset that accommodates the triad are bound to perpetually lament.

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    “The world of today is totally different from the world inhabited by our forebears. One of the factors responsible for this change is the totality of what makes the Information Age, which is still evolving as technology develops rapidly.

    “The changes of the world provide new opportunities and threats. While there are new opportunities in Information Technology, the existing jobs as typists, receptionists, traditional printers, telephone booth operators, computer operators, factory workers, cashiers, travel agents, fuel attendants, among others, are on the verge of extinction.

    “New opportunities will emerge in the high tech sector and many skills that were not otherwise taught in traditional schools would be needed. Degrees would no longer be sole guarantors of jobs but demonstrable skills will.

    “In this regard, there won’t be any difference between those who are literate and those who are illiterate without the cutting-edge skills that are associated with learning, relearning, and unlearning.

    “Therefore, the onus of the responsibility lies on everyone to get prepared for the challenges of the Information Age by taking lifelong learning seriously and being willing to change as circumstances unfold,” he said.

    The JAMB boss told the KWASU graduates that learning, unlearning, and relearning were the compasses that would guide them in the uncharted territories of the Digital Age. 

    “These processes are not separate but interwoven elements of a holistic approach to personal and professional development. The illiterate of the 21st century, as Alvin Toffler profoundly noted, will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn. 

    “Your ability to embrace these principles will set you apart and empower you to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities of our rapidly changing world,” oloyede said.

    KWASU’s acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, said today’s humans live in an era of unprecedented technological advancements.

    The vice chancellor said Nigeria’s educational institutions must become catalysts for transformation by preparing graduates for the challenges of today and for the rapidly evolving landscape of the Digital Age.

    “This lecture cannot be more timely and more relevant in this period when certain knowledge is fast becoming obsolete at an ever-increasing pace.

    “The ability to unlearn outdated concepts and practices, and relearn new ones, therefore, becomes a crucial skill,” he added. 

  • Oloyede’s large heart

    Oloyede’s large heart

    The Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Otunba Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede, has shown that governance is not rocket science, especially when you have the fear of God and the commitment to bring good and quality governance to the people.

    His actions since he assumed office have shown that he is a man of his word as he has been dishing out the dividend of democracy in tandem with his campaign promise.To cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government among indigenes of Oshodi, in his magnanimous nature doled out over 10,000 customieed packs of food items to indigenes of the local government who benefited from the palliative scheme.

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    It is evident that the chairman has the welfare of his people at heart. Hence, little surprise when a crowd gathered at the LGA secretariat to receive the edible items which consist of rice, garri, vegetable oil, yam, plantain, spaghetti, and noodles among others. While he personally monitored the process, he gave special preference to persons of special abilities.

    Otunba Oloyede said the palliatives were aimed at bringing succour to the people, especially the very low-income earners. He further said that more palliatives would be provided as more drastic measures would be taken to cushion the effect of the hardship as his administration is working with all relevant stakeholders to bring relief also with the sharing of 400 free GCE forms to students with less privileged parents to enable them forge ahead in their educational sojourn.

  • UTME: Malpractice, impersonation have reduced, says Oloyede

    UTME: Malpractice, impersonation have reduced, says Oloyede

    Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has stated the level of malpractice and impersonation in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has  reduced drastically following measures put in place by the board. 

    Oloyede said he was impressed that malpractice and impersonation had reduced nationwide and now below the international standard in terms of percentage.

    “The level of malpractice and impersonation have reduced drastically. I am impressed that throughout the country it has become very minimal. In fact, it is now below the international standard in terms of the percentage. We have better devices to determine what is happening in centres and the system won’t allow it,”  he said.

    Addressing journalists in Lagos at the weekend when monitoring the examination across centres, he commended the conduct of the UTME nationwide. He also hailed Lagos centres for performing well.

    The JAMB Registrar monitored the examination in West African Examination Council Testing  and Training Centre in Ogba, Lagos; JKK Ilupeju and the University of Lagos,among others.

    He said challenges in States like Kwara, Borno and Niger  on the first day  were addressed with the creation of a fourth session for candidates to write the examination.

    Read Also : 947,000 write 2023 UTME

    Oloyede noted that JAMB was committed to the cause of visually-impaired candidates  and those with other forms of disability.

    “I am happy that the committee handling the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) under the leadership of Prof. Peter Okebukola is doing a good job. We are giving a sense of belonging to those incapacitated by one disability or the other. They are happy the nation cares about them,” he said.

    He also said though accredited  CBT centres have improved as level of complaints about them has  reduced, there was room for improvement because of human factor.

    The JAMB Registrar hailed the National Identity Management Commission,the telcos and other stakeholders for their support.

    END.

  • Oloyede: Honour for the Honourable

    Today is another day of glory and history in Lagos. All ways from different parts of Nigeria will lead to the Centre of Excellence. At the instance of ‘The Sun’ newspaper, a gathering of Nigeria’s who is who will take place once again and the venue is Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island where a glorious recognition session will be held in honour of some great Nigerians who deserve honour. Among those to be honoured are some outstanding Nigerians in various fields of endeavour and flamboyant politicians who are considered to be frontline performers in their political terrain.

    The occasion is meant to be a show of recognition to certain patriotic Nigerians as an incentive for relentlessness in their excellent performances in public service.

    The most likely focused personality on today’s occasion is the current Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, OFR, FNAL, who is being honoured as the Most Outstanding Public Servant of the Year 2018. He won the same award two years ago (2017) at a similar occasion organised by New Telegraph and this article is similar to what yours sincerely wrote at that time in this column.

    This man’s unique patriotism and honesty at this period of epidemic corruption in Nigeria, especially among public servants, have become a special historic point of reference. His remittance of about N16 billion to the treasury of the Federal Government of Nigeria in less than just about two years of his assumption of office as JAMB Registrar, compared to remittance of less than N2 billion in almost twenty years in the same JAMB, is unprecedented in the history of this country.

     

    Who is this Prof Oloyede?

    He is the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and the current Registrar of JAMB. Any citation about his birth, growth and schooling may not be relevant here since the award to be given to him today is about integrity and not academic qualification.

     

    Observation

    For every age of human life there are particles of history that relay to us the successes or failures of the previous ages. And from such successes or failures humanity endeavours to draw a guide for itself which may serve either as a warning on the vanity of human wishes or as encouragement or both.

    At a time like this when anything new and progressive is a great reminder of the sad flight of hope in Nigeria and its replacement by despair, it behoves only some die hard patriotic optimists to take a positive and progressive leap as an indication that all is not lost in our country after all. One of such optimists is Prof Oloyede.

     

    His Intellectual Prowess

    From his early age, this man has consistently been a bookworm as there was no book within his reach that he would not want to read and digest. His excellent academic performance in the University he attended as well as his exceptional administrative acumen as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin could therefore not have come as a surprise to those who know him closely.  But besides academic brilliance, what actually lifted him in life is his genuine goodwill and sincere selfless service which he is always eagerly ready to render towards helping others. His sacrifices in this sphere are quite legendary and his phenomenal rise can only be classified as a reward for it from Allah.

     

    His Tenure as VC

    If, during his tenure as Vice-Chancellor, the University of Ilorin could rise so loftily from a very modest foundation and tower above many other Universities that preceded it in Nigeria then the hope that a new Nigeria could still emerge from the debris of the old can no longer be a national nightmare.

     

    The Worth of Institutions

    “Institutions are worth no more than the men who work them”. This quotation is  culled from a speech once delivered by Prof O. O. Akinkugbe, the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin. That quotation is partially in tandem with a verse of the Qur’an thus: “Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change the evil contents of their minds…” It was on the premise of that pregnant quotation that Prof Oloyede built his unsurpassable achievements as the Vice-Chancellor of the same University of Ilorin between 2007 and 2012 as a way of encouraging the Nigerian youths of today on the pleasant possibilities of tomorrow. For some of those youths, that tomorrow has earnestly begun with the same Prof Oloyede as their model in JAMB. The men described by Prof Akinkugbe in that quote are not by any means ordinary. And the soils from which they sprang are not by any standard restricted to any particular area of study or style of life. Thus, since the tree of life has many branches and roots, no topmost twig should presume to think that it alone has sprung from the mother earth. There is no restriction of the signpost of life to any particular person, place or time.

     

    Parable of Greatness

    Greatness is like a magnet which attracts only the relevant elements to itself.

    It was because some people including a British writer and poet, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), who won Nobel Laurel in 1907 were unmindful of the above quote that the world is in turmoil today. In the conclusion of one of his poems, Rudyard Kipling once asserted thus: ”Oh! East is East and West is West; never the Twain shall meet…” That poem later came to intensify the perennial hostility between the East and the West which the latter came to adopt as a permanent policy to the detriment of global peace and harmony. But what neither Kipling nor the West seemed to understand about the seeming natural divide in the world is the existence of an abstract confluence similar to a knuckle that holds the blades of a pair of scissors together. Just as the scissors cannot operate effectively with one blade so can no man with one focused educational eye correctly claim to be the main signpost in any field of human endeavour. That is what distinguishes Prof Oloyede from many others. He combines the Eastern and the Western education together with the intention of utilising both jointly to the benefit of humanity. And that is now manifesting nationally.

     

    The JAMB Registrar

    Prof Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede is a household name in the academia not only in Nigeria or Africa but also in the entire world just like the University he was privileged to head for five years in Ilorin. What qualified him for such a vertical position is an interesting question for which most inquisitive minds may earnestly seek an answer. And the answer is not far-fetched.

    Like some rare men of letters and knowledge, Prof Oloyede wears an intellectual binocular with which he sees life from a bird’s eye view. And this is evident not just in his management of the University of Ilorin for five years but also in the humility, selflessness and patriotism with which he demonstrates civility in all its ramifications. The difference between a man of letters and that of knowledge is quite clear. While the one sees life through the common eye, the other sees it through an uncommon binocular.

    In the days of Socrates, Aristotle and Herodotus, when education was an adorned virtue used as a yardstick for measuring civility and value, no one cared about the material gains accruing from it. Bastardisation of education only set in when certificate was introduced as a means of evaluating its material worth. Thus, with certificate, mere literacy began to be misconceived as education. Whereas literacy is just an added value to education the modern day man has ignorantly but arrogantly interpolated the one for the other. This is what Prof Oloyede resented in his academic odyssey when he chose to combine Eastern education with that of the West with a determination to use the advantage of both as a fertilizer for the academic soil of Nigeria’s future which was why he specialized in Arabic and Islamic Studies even at the professorial level.

    Many ignorant Nigerians including journalists had queried Oloyede’s educational background, even as Vice-Chancellor, in their vainglorious belief that Arabic and Islamic studies had nothing valuable to offer a progressive nation. Apparently, such blind sceptics did not know that some other Nigerian celebrities like the renowned literary  Prof Kole Omotosho, the author of ‘Just Before Dawn’ and the current Alake of Egbaland Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo as well as Prof Isaac Ogunbiyi and even the former First Lady of Ondo State, Mrs. Funke Agagu obtained their first University degrees in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the University of Ibadan. Yet, all of them and others are Christians. Looking at these mentioned personalities and many others like them very well which sensible person can show how their educational backgrounds diminish their greatness in life. Arabic which is naturally spoken by about 400 million people in the world is one of the few languages used to conduct meetings and conferences at the United Nations.  It is only in Nigeria that such naivety with which to denigrate a person for making a choice of career can thrive.

     

    His Philosophy of Life

    Prof Oloyede’s philosophy of life seems to tally with that of Daniel Webster who in a memorable poem stated as follows:

    “If we work marble it will perish; if we work upon brass time will efface it; if we rear temples they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds and instil in them just principles; we are then engraving that upon tablets which no time can efface but will brighten to all eternity”.

    This is the philosophy that propelled him to adopt contentment as a personal principle right from his early age. While giving his reason for contesting for Vice-Chancellorship of the University of Ilorin, he once told some medical students of that University who paid him a congratulatory visit on his assumption of office as the new Vice-Chancellor that he never intended to contest for that office. He however made a clarification that when an academic charlatan with an ulterior motive in the same University threatened to expose him if he dared contest, he (Oloyede) saw it as a challenge to put his privacy on a public table. His intention was not to contest but to see what would be exposed in his privacy. But as God would have it he emerged as the Vice-Chancellor without an iota of blemish.

    Before contesting for that post he had served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor twice. First he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics and later Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration in the same University of Ilorin where he had spent his entire tertiary academic life. Yet, it was only by a mere dint of fortuity that he contested for the post of Vice-Chancellor of that University.  He relayed the story above to the visiting students as a form of admonition that nothing in life is comparable to conscientious service to humanity with humility and patriotism.

     

    Evidence of His Patriotism

    As the President of African Vice-Chancellors, when he noticed that the position of the Executive Secretary of the Association of African Universities (AAU) was more important and more beneficial to Nigeria than that of the President which he occupied, Prof Oloyede encouraged some of his Nigerian colleagues to apply for that post promising that he would resign his Presidential position in that Association to enable a Nigerian emerge as Executive Secretary. But typical of Nigerians, most of his colleagues did not believe him. However, when the time came and one of them applied, Oloyede surprisingly resigned just after two years in an office where he was supposed to spend four renewable years. Following that patriotic display of strategy, Nigeria began to benefit greatly from the post of Executive Secretary which was then held by Prof Jegede, a former Vice- Chancellor of National Open University (NOUN). And to show appreciation to Prof Oloyede over his large heart and patriotism, the AAU Board appointed him as a Board Member of that Association.

    Only a few Nigerians in the academic field can surpass this humble man’s record when it comes to the ‘nitty gritty’ of academic prowess, discipline and integrity. Yet, you can hardly notice it in his demeanour.

     

    His Ladder to the Top

    Prof Oloyede was not only the first ‘FIRST CLASS’ graduate of the Faculty of Arts in the University of Ilorin and the very first alumnus of that University to obtain a PhD in that same University, he was also the first Director of Academic Planning and first alumni President to be a member of the Governing Council of the University. Oloyede is the first Unilorin alumnus to become a Deputy Vice-Chancellor and subsequently the first alumnus to become the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

    Not only that, he is the first Vice-Chancellor in Nigeria to introduce Computer-Based Test (CBT) as a method of screening applicants for admission into the University. An invention which institutions like WAEC and NECO later adopted. This ingenuous personality was also the first Vice-Chancellor to lead a second generation University to the number one position in Nigeria based on external ranking. He also became the first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor to emerge as President of the Association of African Universities (AAU) and at the same time the Chairman of Association of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU).

    He was also the first Nigerian Vice-Chancellor to combine the Board membership of International Association of Universities (IAU) with those of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and Association of African Universities (AAU).

    With the above listed ‘FIRSTS’ he was able to make Unilorin the first Federal University in Nigeria to run an uninterrupted academic calendar throughout his tenure and this made it possible for Unilorin to be internationally ranked as one of the very best 20 Universities in Africa. Also, through Prof Oloyede’s astute academic administration, the University of Ilorin was able to maintain the first position among Nigerian Universities for three consecutive years (2009, 2010 and 2011).

    While giving his first annual report entitled ‘I BELIEVE’ barely one year after he became the Vice-Chancellor, he reflected on that determination thus: “History tells us that Julius Caesar with his legions sailed over the channels from gaol and arrived in today’s England. He did a very clever yet incongruous thing to ensure the success of his army. Halting the soldiers on the chalk cliffs of Dover, he burnt every ship by which they crossed, leaving them with nothing but determination to succeed or perish, with the only means of retreat consumed by the red tongues of fire. It was that determination, powered by courage that made the legions to advance and conquer. They did not look back and the rest is history”.

    “I believe”, he continued: “that with the caesarean determination of avoiding destruction and being focused on the set goals, the University of Ilorin, by all standards, a great University can be greater. Our goals are to fulfil our mission, attain our vision and engrave the name of the University on the psyche of global reckoning through the adoption of best practices. I believe that this is possible along the dictum that says “whatever human mind can conceive and believe man can achieve”. “I believe that we can do it if we are determined”. It is that courageous belief that is now seeing him through the hitherto turbulent voyage of JAMB.

     

    Conclusion

    “Who shares his life’s pure pleasure and walks the honest road; who trades with heaping measure and lifts his brother’s load; who turns the wrong down bluntly and lends the right a hand; he dwells in God’s own country and tills the holy land”.

    Professor Oloyede has done precisely that and Nigeria is a witness. It is now left for the present days to raise up their voices in prayer saying GOD BLESS YOU so that the future days can chorus AMEN in response.

  • Oloyede raises bar on English usage

    Veteran and practising media professionals, actors and corporate giants were among guests at the presentation of ace broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede’s two books at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Her publications raised fresh concerns on the abuse of English across all spheres of national life. EVELYN OSAGIE reports.

    It was as if Buchi Emecheta had Mrs Pamela Roberts in mind while writing The Joys of Motherhood. Mrs Roberts was full of joy to witness the presentation of her daughter’s books. Indeed, the encomiums showered on her “baby girl” and the woman of excellence she has become were testaments to Mrs Roberts’ efforts in raising her. She was not alone. Wife of former Lagos State governor and founder of LEARN Dame Abimbola Fashola was also there.

    So also were Chief Julie Coker, Stella Awani, Sienne Allwell-Brown, Princess Teni Awofiyebi, Mr Dele Adetiba, Mallam Danladi Bako (Kogunan Sakwatto) and Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe. Olu Jacobs and his wife, Joke Sylva, Oba Gbenga Sonuga and Shade Bembatoum-Young were also there.

    They thronged the Agip Hall of the MUSON Centre, Lagos with other dignitaries for the book presentation by veteran broadcaster Bimbo Oloyede.

    The presentation which was anchored by Channels TV Newscaster, Ijeoma Onyeator, was well-attended by broadcast veterans and practicing media professionals, celebrated actors, corporate giants, school administrators and members of the public.

    With over four decades of experience, Mrs Oloyede has trained many broadcasters and the quality of those she has trained in Channels, for example, is a testament to her professionalism, it was said. Not stopping there,  she has put her knowledge into publications to promote proper expression at all levels.

    Under the chairmanship of Dr Christopher Kolade (CON), the seasoned broadcaster unveiled her latest publications: Strictly Speaking (Pronunciation Made Easy) and Strictly speaking (An oral guide for schools and colleges); and audio CDs as accompaniments to the two publications.

    The presentation was spiced up by entertaining and captivating performances in the form of drama skits by members of the Village Headmaster cast, “Amebo” (Madame  Ibidun Allison) and “Chief Dagbolu” (Daniel Imoudu) and the Funke Akindele-Bello as “Jenifa”.

    There was music by young saxophonist Korede Sax, and rising musician and former Project Fame contestant ‘Joba, who gave a thrilling rendition of Bob Marley’s, Redemption Song.

    Beyond the passion, commitment and professionalism of the woman with the “sonorous voice”, the event also raised fresh concerns on the falling standard of English Language usage at all levels in the country.

    While praising Mrs Oloyede’s commitment to standard, Kolade decried the falling standard in the broadcast media, calling for a revamp in the industry. Kolade’s words were part of the inspiration behind the writing of her books.

    “Strictly speaking is a concept that emerged as a result of a need, which I identified within various sectors over a period of four decades as a broadcast professional”, began Mrs Oloyede.

    “It seemed to me that it was necessary to promote improved pronunciation to strengthen personal and corporate development, stimulate educational advancement and enhance professional communication. I thought I was writing Strictly Speaking (Pronunciation Made Easy) – for a general audience but after due consultation, I had to come up with a second book. I also thought it was important for readers to learn the sounds of English, so I included an audio version of the contents of both books, to ensure that the sounds are practised and remembered. I am happy to inform you that the second book – Strictly speaking (An oral guide for schools and colleges) has just been officially approved by the Lagos State Ministry of Education, for use by secondary schools in this state,” she added.

    To drive her point home, the books’ tenets were served to an audience of eclectic taste and varied repertoire of achievements, some of whom were conferred with the title, “Custodian of Expression”, and, by that conferment, given the responsibility to reignite, uphold and maintain the standards of the spoken word from yesteryears within their constituents and spheres of influence.

    The former President of WIMBIZ and Deputy Country Director of Deutsche Bank, Mrs Adeola Azeez, gave a compelling narrative to introduce and expand the concept of custodianship.

    “The idea of creating custodians was explained by Dr. Kolade and beautifully expanded by Mrs. Adeola Azeez, so all I need to say is that I appeal to our custodians to commit to upholding standards generally in their spheres of influence, but specifically where they can ensure that information is properly expressed and delivered,” Oloyede said.

    Twenty-five custodians were acknowledged, including veteran actress and Director at Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, Mrs Silva; Dame Fashola; proprietor of Vivian Fowler School, and representing the Association of Private Educators in Nigeria (APEN) Mrs Funke Fowler-Amba; and President Guild of Editors, Mrs Funke Egbemode.

    Others included Vice President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Toki Mabogunje; President, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, Dr John Momoh; NTA DG Mallam Yakubu Mohammed; the Permanent Secretary of Education, Lagos State, Elizabeth Adebunmi Adekanye; FRCN DG Dr Mansur Liman; JAMB Registrar Prof Ishaq Oloyede; and Senator Gbenga Ashafa, among others.

    The books were reviewed from three perspectives – education, led by Mrs Amelia Dafeta (director of Education at Corona Schools’ Trust Council); broadcast industry, led by broadcaster and Editor-in-chief Today’s Woman Mrs Onyenokwe; the corporate sector and the arts, led by broadcaster and advertising guru Mr Adetiba.

    Mrs Onyenokwe decried the lack of proper pronunciation and elocution in the broadcast industry. Streeing that the decay in the industry began with the advent of cable TV and  returnees with foreign education, she said “the Nigerian airwaves are replete with youngsters seeking the glamour and the fame that surely comes with the industry; speaking in tongues as it were.

    “The sounds they make can hardly be placed. We hear things like American English. That they sound foreign seems to be the main criteria for their hire, and sadly there doesn’t appear to be enough training opportunities for these young ones today. It is for this reason that this book has come at no better time,” she observed.

    Stating that a lot of the older generation broadcasters felt helpless, she praised Mrs Oloyede for doing what many of them wished to do to deal with the problem. “If English is the chosen mode of communication, the onus is on us therefore to attempt to speak it correctly, especially the broadcasters who, like already said, are the standard.

    She noted that these publications came at the right time and would prove not only useful but essential to resetting the standard of English and professional communication in Nigeria, especially at the school level. She implored those responsible for education and information dissemination to adopt them as the go-to resource across board.

    Adetiba observed: “I make bold to say that the book is a DIY aid because there is enough in the book to start anyone from the very beginning. The first step is to recognise that English is not our first language and we therefore need to work at it.”

    Other guests included Fred Amata, Femi Odugbemi, Shola Omole, Mr Yinka Sanni, Yemi Sodimu, Alhaji Kayode Bakare and Funke Treasure-Durod, Assistant Director, Programmes at  Radio Nigeria (FRCN).

    The first set in a series of publications,  Strictly Speaking (Pronunciation Made Easy) is designed to help professionals within the corporate, education and broadcast sectors, who wish to improve the quality of their speech and become better communicators. Strictly Speaking (An oral guide for schools and colleges) is targeted at inculcating correct articulation in students.

    The books give an insightful and detailed account of the origin of the English language; it documents the internationally adopted phonetic alphabets and symbols, the use of stress in speech, English expressions, the concept of “Nigerian English” and also includes exercises, which have all been recorded on the CDs for practical training.

     

  • Oloyede inspires professionals with Strictly Speaking

    She has made her mark in broadcasting. Bimbo Oloyede (nee Robert) along with Siene Allwell Brown, Ruth Benemesia-Opia and Ronke Ayuba, among others, were the golden ‘girls’ of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in the late 1970s. Today, Mrs Oloyede is boosting professionalism with books on effective communication, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.

    ASIDE dedicating the last 20 years to training broadcasters, executives, diplomats and corporate clients in presentation, communication and public speaking, Mrs Bimbo Oloyede is passionate about promoting professionalism in broadcasting.

    Driven by a desire to restore quality to the profession, she has put her experiences into a book and audio formats as tools for making readers better communicators and attain mastery of the English Language.

    She believes that articulation and effective communication are efficient tools that strengthen personal and corporate development, which promotes educational advancement, enhances dynamic information dissemination and good governance. However, she is worried by the poor quality of news casting among young professionals.

    Oloyede, who spoke in Lagos during a chat on her new book, Strictly Speaking (Presentation Made Easy), said she was giving back to the industry that made her a fulfilled professional. She stated that as a professional with a strong tradition of effective communication where details matter, she could not but share her wealth of experience with the younger generation.

    The book will be presented to the public on June 25, at the AGIP Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The event will be chaired by Dr Christopher Kolade.

    Oloyede said as a practitioner in the broadcast industry, she is concerned with the falling standards of presentation and pronunciation in the air waves as well as the poor performance of public officials within our public space.

    Strictly Speaking is, therefore, her contribution towards re-awakening the first part of the effective communication process and a practical way of improving the standard of spoken and written English, which is after all, Nigeria’s official language. “At my age and stage, I believe that I am not only duty bound to encourage and facilitate high levels of professionalism within the broadcast industry but I also think I should try to nip the problem in the bud by reaching out to students to improve their ability to pronounce English words properly and express themselves more fluently,” she said.

    She recalled that when she was leaving NTA, the question of what to do next came up, during which she decided to put her experiences and observations in print and audio formats.

    “Strictly speaking is a concept that emerged as  a result of a need, which I identified within the nation’s education, information, corporate and entertainment sectors, based upon my observations, interaction and experience which I have garnered from working as a broadcast professional for over four decades. I have been training for over 20 years and have interacted with so many people. When I was going to end my career in broadcasting, the question came on; what next? I then decided that I would put my observations and experiences on paper and in audio formats.

    “Ultimately, it is my wish to promote clarity, diction and professional standards across the country and I believe that Strictly Speaking (Pronunciation made easy) and its sequel Strictly Speaking – an oral guide for schools and colleges are a major steps towards achieving my aim,” she added.

    Oloyede disclosed that she introduced a CD with specially designed speech exercises to the book, because she is aware that it is very easy to forget the sounds of English, especially in an environment like ours, where different languages are spoken. She however hopes that after listening and practicing, readers will have a better understanding of the rhythm and sounds of English and consequently become more proficient in the pronunciation of English words. But she noted that she does not claim to know how to pronounce every English word.

    According to the author, ‘the book is an adventurous journey into vocal gymnastics-the type that will enable you to land safely on your feet, with your head held high, teeth intact and smiling with style and panache.’

    Published in 2016, the book is designed to help non-native speakers of English – students and professionals alike – improve their speech, become better communicators and attain mastery of a language spoken globally. It explores the origin of English Language, its phonetic alphabets, sounds and symbols, stress patterns, English expressions and explores the concept of ‘Nigerian English.’

    Her second book, Strictly Speaking (An Oral Guide for school and colleges), she said, is written specifically for secondary schools and colleges pupils, who require more technical information and detail about the elements of oral English. She noted that though the book is still on production line, it provides practical examples and exercises to help students in preparing for examinations. “I do hope I will be able to present it alongside Strictly Speaking on June 25. Let me reiterate that the Strictly Speaking series is a resource material for people across all sectors and industries,” she said.

    On the impact of Pidgin English on speaking right

    “Pidgin in my estimation is also a language. Even within the confines of  Pidgin, there are variants ranging from Warri, Benin, Isale-Eko (Lagos) and Kano. But, let us give it to the stations that have decided to communicate in Pidgin English. No one can criticise them. However, many broadcasters in such stations still return to English language many a time because it is difficult for them to sustain conversation in Pidgin English.

    “I always advise broadcasters that when they are coming to a radio or television station, they should drop any language other than English that they know. In fact, forget it as soon as you enter the station. This is because the sound of other languages remains in your brain such that if you have been speaking to someone in Pidgin English 10 minutes before going on air, the sounds of Pidgin English are still reverberating in your ears.

    “Our languages are so tonal that those tones leave imprint in your brain. It is not in our interest as broadcasters to speak in languages other than English once you get to premises of the stations because of those latent influences.”

    She said: Missing link in training young broadcasters, If there is, it is the practical aspects. Some of these schools have radio and studios. But, how much attention is given to pronunciation? How much monitoring is done by lecturers when it comes to speech? Then how much importance do students attach to ability to speak correctly?  Again, these days anything goes, but we have a responsibility to make effort to do it right because we are in a global village.”

    On what will be her priority if appointed to head NBC, she said: “My priority will be paying attention to details so that the standard that we had can be brought back and we will maintain it. Many years ago, people read papers, such as Daily Times, when studying for examination. People are inspired by what they read, saw and watched in the media to be journalists.”