Lagos State University (LASU) has expressed strong support for the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, following the technical setback that affected the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a statement issued by the Deputy Registrar and Coordinator of the Centre for Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, the university described Prof. Oloyede as “a beacon of integrity” and commended his decision to publicly accept full responsibility for the failure that invalidated the results of 379,997 candidates across Lagos and five southeastern states.
The university highlighted the Registrar’s boldness and humility during a widely reported press conference on Wednesday, May 14, where he admitted to technical and human errors that affected the exams. Rather than deflect blame, Prof. Oloyede announced an immediate rescheduling of the examination for all affected candidates, a move LASU says reflects rare courage and a deep commitment to accountability.
“His decision to subject the entire process to internal technical review, and openly admit to shortcomings, is a demonstration of the kind of leadership that is often lacking in our public institutions,” the statement read.
Since his appointment in 2016, Prof. Oloyede has implemented reforms that have significantly boosted public trust in JAMB’s examination processes. LASU noted that it has directly benefitted from these improvements, which have led to the admission of more qualified candidates and enhanced transparency.
The university also recalled Prof. Oloyede’s previous achievements as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, describing his career as one built on integrity, excellence, and service.
LASU called on Nigerians to view the situation not as a failure, but as an opportunity to improve institutional systems, urging the public to support leaders who show accountability, especially in moments of crisis.
“We believe that supporting responsible leadership is crucial to national progress,” the university said.
The statement ended with a call for continued progress in Nigeria’s education sector.