When the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, visited Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, a few days ago, a feeling of awe and great expectations rented the air. Based on the worthy strides each of them has been taking on their different beats, it was like a meeting of like minds: like an achiever calling on a performer. It was thus not surprising that their deliberation yielded very good news for the Nigerian education sector: the promise of more Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres to be built by the Sanwo-Olu administration.
While Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, has distinguished himself as a diligent and forthright administrator, unprecedentedly remitting billions of Naira into the Federal Government’s purse, Sanwo-Olu has proved to be one of the best-performing governors in the country. The infrastructural development that Lagos has witnessed during his tenure, especially with the deepening and expansion of the rail system, has positioned him well in the hall of history.
In education, the Sanwo-Olu government, through landmark projects that include the EKOEXCEL, has breathed more life into schools and the agencies connected to them. While the administration has constructed some mega schools across the state, it has increased grants just as it is constructing hostels for the Lagos State University, Ojo, which has remained off-campus for decades. The meeting of Sanwo-Olu and Oloyede at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja, was, therefore, bound to be devoid of frivolity but pregnant with lasting impacts.
A Yoruba proverb says Ọkùnrin tó ń sun rárà f’ọ́kùnrin, akọ isẹ́ ló ń ṣe, meaning that a man chanting the praise of his fellow man is doing a really daunting job. Yet, like the deep calling to the deep, Sanwo-Olu did not mince words as he celebrated his august visitor, describing his performance at JAMB as transformative.
The governor highlighted the registrar’s dedication, integrity, and commitment to excellence as key factors driving the significant improvements witnessed at the institution in recent years.
Sanwo-Olu said: ‘I commend him for the remarkable transformation he has brought to JAMB. His dedication, integrity, and commitment to excellence have not gone unnoticed’.
More importantly, the governor reiterated his administration’s dedication to improving quality education, announcing plans to establish additional JAMB centres across the state. According to him, land will be allocated for the for the construction of more CBT centres in Ojo, FESTAC, Ikorodu and Mile 12. He expressed optimism about the future of education in Lagos and across Nigeria, citing the potential of such collaborations to drive transformative impacts.
Sanwo-Olu added: ‘Education is one of the strongest tools you can give to a human being. Together, I believe we can achieve even more significant milestones to benefit our state and the entire country by enhancing the educational landscape and creating opportunities for our youths’.
In his response, Oloyede expressed gratitude for the state government’s support, particularly the planned establishment of more CBT centres. He highlighted the disparity in Lagos State, which accounts for 15 per cent of candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, but has less than 10 per cent of the country’s CBT centres.
Like Oliver Twist asking for more, Oloyede appealed for further support and collaboration, including assistance in relocating JAMB’s office from Ikoyi to a more central location to ease access for mainland-based candidates, who make up 90 per cent of the state’s examinees. ‘We extend our hands of partnership in sensitisation programmes. Priming our students for examinations is necessary, and this cannot be done without the state’s support’, he said
