Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will usher in a new leadership era on Friday, July 31, 2026, as its outgoing Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, formally hands over to his successor, Professor Segun Aina, bringing an end to nearly a decade of transformative reforms under Oloyede's administration. The official handover ceremony is scheduled to take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2026, with proceedings streamed live across the board's official social media platforms. In a notice issued on Wednesday, July 29, the examination body described the event as a significant milestone in its institutional history and invited members of the public to witness the transition.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Professor Aina to succeed Oloyede, with the announcement conveyed in a statement by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Aina, a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, is recognised for his expertise in digital infrastructure, national examination systems and institutional reforms. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, a Master's degree in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. He also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.
According to the Presidency, Aina has more than 15 years of experience advising federal and state governments on digital transformation, institutional reforms and systems design. He has also consulted for examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), particularly on ICT systems and examination integrity. The Presidency further noted that Aina is one of Nigeria's youngest professors of Computer Engineering and will become the youngest registrar in JAMB's history. He turns 40 in July 2026.
President Tinubu expressed confidence that the incoming registrar would consolidate on the reforms implemented under Oloyede's administration while strengthening the board's examination processes, digital infrastructure and institutional efficiency. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended the outgoing registrar for what it described as his transformative 10-year tenure, noting that his tenure repositioned the examination body from an institution facing declining public confidence to one now widely respected for its credibility, efficiency and integrity.
Oloyede, who was first appointed in 2016 and reappointed for a second term in 2021, will step down as JAMB Registrar on July 31. Through visionary reforms, he restored confidence in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), strengthened the credibility of the admissions process, and institutionalised technology-driven service delivery. His administration introduced numerous innovations that have become reference points for examination administration in Nigeria and earned the Board widespread local and international recognition.
Speaking during a final media parley in Oloyede's honour, NGE President Eze Anaba commended the outgoing registrar for driving excellence and restoring public confidence in the examination body, noting that his achievements speak to the power of competence, integrity and transparency. According to him, Oloyede's track record over the past decade has proven that Nigeria still has hope of overcoming the challenges confronting the nation if credible and genuine leaders are entrusted with positions of authority. Anaba further commended Oloyede for the cordial relationship he built with the media.
On his part, Oloyede expressed deep appreciation to the media for their constructive reportage, which he said put his administration on its toes to do the extraordinary. "You played the role of both the friends and the enemy," he said. "All the criticism that you hit us with is for our growth. Your criticisms have been fantastic and very helpful". Oloyede further urged media executives to continue the same level of support for the incoming registrar, while assuring the incoming head of the body of his continued support. He used the opportunity to disabuse people's minds about introducing his predecessor to his networks, clarifying that it is not a veiled third term but what is right to give him a firm start.
The incoming Registrar, Professor Aina, has vowed to institutionalise the reforms and achievements recorded under Oloyede. He expressed gratitude for his appointment, describing the responsibility as a national duty far greater than any individual's. He also appealed to the media executives for support through candid and constructive reporting. Taking over from the accomplished administrator is a distinguished Professor of Computer Engineering and experienced administrator in his own right. His academic background and extensive expertise in information and communication technology, digital systems, and cybersecurity position him to lead JAMB into its next phase of growth.
The transition is not merely a change of baton; it presents Aina with an opportunity to consolidate on existing achievements while charting a new course that responds to emerging realities in educational assessment, admissions management and technological innovation. With technology increasingly shaping every aspect of examination administration worldwide, Aina's professional background offers a unique opportunity to deepen JAMB's digital transformation and improve service delivery across the board.
Aina is a registered member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). His connection with JAMB dates back to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year, during which he gained early exposure to national admissions processes and data-driven operations — experience that has continued to inform his work in examination reform and systems optimisation.
As JAMB prepares for the leadership transition, the ceremony will officially mark the expiration of Oloyede's tenure and the commencement of Aina's leadership of Nigeria's tertiary admissions agency. The management and staff are expected to offer the new registrar their full cooperation and unwavering support as he assumes the responsibility of leading one of Nigeria's most strategic educational institutions. The success of this transition will not be measured by the ability of JAMB to remain static, but by its capacity to adapt, innovate, and deliver greater value to candidates, institutions, and the nation.
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