By Chinyere Nwachukwu
Lagos – The University of Ilorin Alumni Association has urged the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to hold the unique qualities that defines his personality to improve on the services of the board.
The call is contained in a statement by the board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
The statement said the association’s members, led by its National President, Dr (Mrs) Rhoda Oduwaiye, made the appeal when they visited the registrar on Friday in Abuja
It described Oloyede as a legend and a detribalised Nigerian, and urged the registrar to make the necessary turnaround better than the board had ever been.
“We congratulate you on your appointment as the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“Though we are aware that you will liken yourself to a doctor who is about to perform surgery, you will be congratulated at the end of a successful completion of the surgery.
“We are congratulating you today because we know by experience that you will be successful.
“You are resuming office with a pedigree of a remarkable academic excellence and an impregnable ability,’’ the statement said.
It noted that Oloyede had demonstrated the qualities at various levels, as a one-time Vice-Chancellor of the university and former Chairman, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) among others.
It added that that the association was confident that Oloyede would take the board a step further than where he met it.
The statement said they also expressed optimism that such a step would further position the board to achieve academic excellence.
According to the statement, the association was equally confident that the JAMB boss would ensure that no Nigerian child who deserves tertiary education would be left out.
“We pray that God in his infinite mercy will continue to guide and guard you in your relentless efforts toward nation building and service to humanity,’’ it said.
The statement said that the registrar in his response lauded the association for its support while he was the vice-chancellor of the university.
“I must say I am humbled by this visit. However, do not forget that it is the support given me by this association that is responsible for whatever feat I have attained today.
“Without your support at the University of Ilorin, I would have been nobody.
“I will therefore, like to add that today’s visit is like a tonic and I want to assure that I will not let you down,’’ the statement quoted Oloyede as saying.
