The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Prof. Is-haq Oloyede

  • JAMB registers 871,576 candidates for UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday said it had registered 871,576 candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, confirmed this to journalists after he intervened and facilitated the smooth registration of some candidates that were stranded at the Digital Bridge Institute centre in Utako, Abuja.

    Oloyede facilitated the registration of over 150 candidates by moving them to other centres to continue their registration after initial threats to shut down the DBI centre.

    The JAMB registrar also said the agency would not extend the registration process despite the challenges faced by candidates nationwide.

    He said the target of the organisation is to register 1.4 million candidates at the end of the exercise.

    Prof. Oloyede added that no candidate would be left out of the registration process despite having a week left for the exercise.

    He said: “About 871, 576 candidates have been registered as at today. We are going to 1, 467, 000 candidates.

    “What we have left is 595,647 and we still have a whole week.

    “There will be no need for extension because you will have finished with all the candidates. Do you want to extend and be attending to goats? What we want to do is to attend to human beings. If the human beings are not there to be registered do we extend?

    “You do not want me to extend just for the sake of extension because I monitor on my screen. That is why there is a difference between the closing date for registration and the closing date for sale.

    “By the time we sell we will know how many that has bought but have not registered.

    “At the end of the exercise no candidate will be left unattended to at the closing of this exercise.”

    The JAMB registrar also said arrangements have been made for physically challenged candidates to write the examination.

    “We have made sufficient provision for the disabled since last year,” he added.

  • JAMB may reduce UTME exams duration – Registrar

    JAMB may reduce UTME exams duration – Registrar

    The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Wednesday said the agency may reduce the timeline for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) from three hours to two hours.

    He also said the question papers will be uploaded five minutes to the examinations in order to check malpractice.

    He, however, confirmed that about 300,000 candidates might sit for the mock UTME examinations on April 8 which will be used to test run its new technology to make its examinations easier for students.

    Oloyede unfolded JAMB’s plans at a Strategic Planning retreat on Supervision and Evaluation of 2017 UTME examinations.

    He said: “As for the 2017 UTME, it is likely we reduce the duration of the examinations. We are looking at two hours for the examinations instead of the present three-hour timeline. This is in line with international best practices.

    “As for the candidates, for their age, the maximum time they can sit for examinations is two hours. Even in terms of international standard, for primary school pupils, the maximum time for examinations is between 45minutes and one hour.”

    The Registrar also said the “questions will be uploaded about five minutes to the examinations” in order to check any leakage or malpractice.

    He said JAMB has embraced new technology which will make the UTME comfortable to write by students in privileged environment and those in rural areas.

    He added: “On April 8, we are going to do the rehearsal of the technology through mock UTME which we are going to conduct.

    “From the general feedback on the adoption of the Computer Based Test mode, we have noted the challenge of low level computer literacy for some candidates, especially with the phobia for the mouse. This has been responsible partly for calls by some people for reversal to the Paper and Pencil Test mode.

    ” In order to ensure equity and level playground for all candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board has designed a system that will allow candidates use only eight keys without the use of the mouse.”

     

  • I was asked to pay $11,550 for doubtful PHD degree – JAMB Registrar

    I was asked to pay $11,550 for doubtful PHD degree – JAMB Registrar

    The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday how he was almost swindled of $11,550 by some individuals behind a suspicious university who offered to award him a doctorate degree at that amount.

    Prof Oloyede, who was in court to testify as the second prosecution witness in the trial of Prof David Iornem, said the incident happened in 2012 when he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

    Prof Iornem is being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) on a 3-count for allegedly operating an illegal university and obtaining under false pretence.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, E. C. Otti, said he became suspicious when he received a letter from one Prof David Iornem, informing him about the offer of professional and academic doctorate degree of the Commonwealth University, Belize, and requiring him to pay a total of $11,550.

    Prof Oloyede said, on receiving the letter from Prof Iornem, and having not applied for the degree, he became suspicious about the offer from the supposed Commonwealth University, a development that informed his decision to report to the National University Commission for investigation.

    The JAMB registrar said he had never met Prof Iornem before Wednesday when he saw him in person in court.

    “When I was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and also, the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, I got a letter from Prof David Iornem, offering me a professional and academic doctorate degree for the sum of $11,550.

    “I suspected that that was not proper for an academic and professional doctorate degree to be so awarded without any application. I did not apply. I considered the offer unethical. I therefore, wrote to the regulator of universities, the Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC). And I attached the letter I received from the Commonwealth University.

    “My intention was to ensure that the NUC investigate to establish the propriety or impropriety of the action. The degree he (Prof Iornem) offered to award me was a professional and academic degree of Commonwealth University, Belize.

    “From exposure, I have about four decades of university life as a teacher and I am very familiar with university system all over the world. I also suspected, given my position in the university globally, I suspected that that university was non-existent.

    “I knew this because as at then, I was on the board of the International Association of Universities (IAU), I was a member of the Governing Board of the Association of Commonwealth Universities; I was also a member of the Board of the Association of African Universities.

    “I was the President of the Association of African Universities. I was also the Interim Secretary General of the Association of West African Universities.

    “All these compelled me to raise the alarm, which is did to the NUC. I considered it a duty.

    “The process of obtaining a professional or academic degree is for the candidate to apply, after which he will be notified about the outcome of his/her application.

    “This is different from a honorary degree. The letter to me stated that it was academic and professional degree, not honorary. If it were honorary, I would have turned it down,” Prof Oloyede said.

    The JAMB boss, who stood in the witness box for over three hours, said after his letter to the NUC, he was invited by the ICPC to make written statement, which he did.

    H said by the letter from the Commonwealth University, he was required to pay $9,500 for the doctorate degree, $1,500 for seminar and $550 for academic gown.

    After he identified the letter from the Commonwealth University, his letter to NUC dated July 23, 2012 and his statement to the ICPC, the three documents were admitted in evidence by the court.

    Under cross examination by defence lawyer, Chris Alashi, Prof Oloyede said he had First Class in his first degree in Arabic, a Masters in Islamic Studies and PHD in Islamic Studies, with specialisation in Islamic Jurisprudence.

    He said he has over 50 academic publications to his credit and has attended over 500 academic related seminars and workshops both locally and internationally in his over 40 years as an academic.

    He said he became a professor in 1995. He said he was aware that of recent, some countries have started to award professional doctorate degrees in professional fields.

    Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed later adjourn further proceedings to June 8, for Prof Oloyede to continue his testimony.

  • I almost lost $11,550 to dubious PhD degree – JAMB chief

    I almost lost $11,550 to dubious PhD degree – JAMB chief

    The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Tuesday  told a Federal High Court in Abuja how he was almost swindled of $11,550 by some individuals behind a suspicious university who offered to award him a doctorate degree at that amount.

    Prof. Oloyede, who was in court to testify as the second prosecution witness in the trial of Prof. David Iornem, said the incident happened in 2012 when he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

    Prof. Iornem is arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC) on a three-count charge for allegedly operating an illegal university and obtaining under false pretence.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, E. C. Otti, the JAMB Registrar said he became suspicious when he received a letter from one Prof. David Iornem, informing him about the offer of professional and academic doctorate degree of the Commonwealth University, Belize, and requiring him to pay a total sum of $11,550.

    Prof. Oloyede said on receiving the letter from Prof Iornem and having not applied for the degree, he became suspicious about the offer from the supposed Commonwealth University, a development that informed his decision to report to the National University Commission (NUC) for investigation.

    The JAMB registrar said he had never met Prof. Iornem before Tuesday when he saw him in person in court.

    “When I was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and also, the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, I got a letter from Prof. David Iornem, offering me a professional and academic doctorate degree for the sum of $11,550.

    “I suspected that it was not proper for an academic and professional doctorate degree to be so awarded without any application. I did not apply and therefore considered the offer unethical. I later wrote to the regulator of universities, the Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC). And I attached the letter I received from the Commonwealth University.

    “My intention was to ensure that the NUC investigate to establish the propriety or impropriety of the action. The degree he (Prof. Iornem) offered to award me was a professional and academic degree of Commonwealth University, Belize.

    “From exposure, I have about four decades of university life as a teacher and I am very familiar with university system all over the world. I also suspected, given my position in the university globally, I suspected that that university was non-existent.”

     

  • JAMB to reduce 180 cut-off mark

    JAMB to reduce 180 cut-off mark

    There are strong indications that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) may approve the reduction of 180 cut-off mark for admission to tertiary institutions.

    The Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq  Oloyede,  who made the disclosure during the 2nd Technical Committee Meeting for 2016 Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria,  at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, stated that the decision became imperative as a result of the inability of some of the institutions to implement the cut-off mark.

    According to the Registrar, “it was in a meeting of the Board of higher institutions and other Stakeholders that a decision of 180 as the 2016 National cut-off mark was reached”.

    He continued that,  “however, many Institutions, though part of the decision, have expressed concern on their inability to effect this cut-off mark as they are finding it difficult to fill a reasonable percentage of their quota if the rule is strictly applied as we insist.

    “A large number of institutions, particularly the budding ones, have applied for a waiver to enable them admit candidates who in some instances scored below 180 marks.  For some, this may sound unreasonable with the largely false impression that a large percentage of those who score above 180 and are qualified for admission cannot find any placement in our institutions.

    “I think this cry needs attention, otherwise, some of these institutions whether public or privately-owned may soon begin to wobble or even close shops.  This will be counter-productive and even defeat the Government Policy of expansion of access to higher education   and manpower development”.

    Oloyede therefore added that, “as a Board, we have studied the trend of admissions and have come up with a   finding that hardly do the institutions collectively fill their quota annually.     Indeed, in some cases, up to 50% of approved quota is wasted particularly by upright institutions which do not circumspect the rule. Unfortunately, a large number of institutions flagrantly disregarded the cut-off and many other policies yet they found a way to eventually regularize the illegal admissions through corrupt process”.

    He however noted that the new flexible cut-off will only be applicable to institutions that have exhausted the list of candidates that scored the 180 cut-off mark.

    “As a Board, we have collated the requests from the various Senates and Academic Boards and have made your pleas known to appropriate authorities . Just this morning we received a green light on flexible cut-off  mark only for institutions which have exhausted the list of candidates with 180 and above,  subject , of course to a minimum acceptable to JAMB and meeting of other pre-requisite”, he added.

    He however assured that the Board would cooperate with the various institutions in carrying out the mandates of their respective Senates and Academic Boards on admission matters, adding that, “the Board would not impose candidates on them but, as a referee, would ensure that no applicant is unjustifiably denied the opportunity of access to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

    “In this respect, together, we should be seen in a conspicuous and proven manner that we have the interest of the Nation in mind in carrying out our statutory functions”.

    He warned that no institution, whether Federal or State, will be allowed to continue with admission of students after the November 30 deadline.

  • NAL hails Oloyede’s appointment as JAMB Registrar

    Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL) on Friday hailed the appointment of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede as Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing it as “a highly merited appointment.”

    A statement issued by the Spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the President of NAL, Prof. Olu Obafemi, made the commendation, when he led the NAL’s team, including the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, to Oloyede’s office in Bwari area of Abuja.

    Obafemi described NAL as an intellectual organisation whose sole mandate is the promotion of research and scholarship at the highest level in all branches of humanities.

    He said Oloyede is an active and dynamic member and a fellow of NAL.

    “The appointment of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede is a highly merited one not because he is a former Vice Chancellor but because he has distinguished himself in Nigeria. It is a merited appointment considering his profile and pedigree,” Obafemi stressed, adding that the Academy’s visit was to assure Oloyede of their support and collaboration with a view to ensuring that he excels in his new appointment.

  • My appointment as JAMB Registrar divine – Oloyede

    The new Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, on Monday said he was surprised to be appointed head of the board by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the appointment as divine.

    “I did not see this assignment coming, yet I consider my being here before you at this moment in history as divine. It is therefore on that premise that after thanking the Almighty God Who makes everything possible and those who repose their confidence in me, I reconciled myself with the daunting task that the current assignment engenders,” he said in a prepared speech he delivered at the headquarters of JAMB in Abuja when Prof. Dibu Ojerinde officially handed over to him.

    Prof. Oloyede promised to hit the ground running.

    He told journalists that he was ready to take JAMB to enviable heights with his qualities and experiences over the years.

    According to him, the board would be structured to reflect the change mantra of the present administration.

    Prof. Oloyede assured that he would continue with the good policies embarked upon by his predecessor, Prof. Ojerinde, adding changes would be made where necessary.

    “Whether my period here is short, truncated or long, what is important is to do my bit and leave the stage better than we met it, just as my predecessors have done. Setting the stage is a collective responsibility and we all have to make this great Board even greater.

    “Part of my agenda is to key into the change mantra of the current government by continuing to build on the legacy left behind by my illustrious predecessors and change whatever deserves to be changed because the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.

    “The change begins from individuals as we often realize that we can’t change anything except we change ourselves.

    “The point I am making is that I am inheriting a great JAMB but there is still sufficient room for improvement so that the Board can even be greater if we all change accordingly,” he said.