Following the recent technical glitches that affected the results of 379,997 candidates that sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), stakeholders have continued to express divergent views about activities of the examination body and its management.
While some stakeholders in the education sector called for the removal of the registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede and scrapping of the body, others were of the view that such glitches are inherent in computer-based tests (CBTs).
The debate once again took a centre stage at the maiden edition of The Encounter 2025 symposium, themed, “Deploying ICT Towards Educational Development,” which brought together a cross-section of stakeholders including educationists, ICT experts, parents and media professionals to deliberate on pressing issues in the education sector.
During a panel discussion, participants expressed contrasting views regarding Prof Oloyede’s future at the helm of JAMB.
While some, including an educationist, Dr Peter Oguduro and a group of concerned parents, advocated for his removal due to the technical failures that affected the conduct of the UTME, others argued that the glitches were not sufficient grounds for calls for his resignation.
Defending Prof Oloyede, a broadcaster and panelist, Mr Patrick Doyle emphasised the need to evaluate his broader track records, saying, “We must not throw away the baby with the bathwater. The registrar is a showpiece for accountability and transparency in Africa.”
Supporting this stance, an IT expert, Dr Abisodun Durosinmi-Eti and parents’ representative, Mrs Yinka Ogunde, highlighted Oloyede’s transformative role in JAMB, urging stakeholders to consider his past contributions and the complexities involved in managing large-scale digital assessments.
The convener of the event/ broadcaster, Seun Oyedeji, noted that The Encounter was conceived as an annual platform to bring government representatives and stakeholders together to discuss critical issues in society.
“It is a common ground for collaboration, solution-finding and progress,” she said.
