A renowned activist and former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt once remarked: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” This beautiful quote describes those calling for the resignation of Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
In retrospect, the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) faced significant challenges due to technical glitches that impacted the performance of many candidates. In response to widespread concerns, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), promptly initiated a comprehensive investigation by independent experts to identify and rectify the issues.
At the end of the investigation, facts were unveiled. The investigation unlike what we know in Nigeria was independent, professional, prompt and unbiased. During a press briefing in Abuja, Prof. Oloyede admitted to the operational errors, stating, “What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors.” His emotional apology, delivered with visible remorse, underscored his commitment to the leadership principles of responsibility, integrity, transparency and accountability. Rather than allowing ego or bureaucratic inertia of a typical public office holder to dictate the response, he chose to confront the issues head-on, demonstrating a rare level of integrity in public service.
The technical issues according to investigation affected 379,997 candidates across 157 centers in Lagos State and the South-East region, including Abia, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra states. JAMB’s swift action, particularly, investigating the problem, identifying the affected candidates, and scheduling retakes between May 16–19—demonstrates a commitment to fairness and transparency in the heavily compromised and bureaucratic environment.
In a country striving for institutional integrity, leaders like Prof. Oloyede should be commended and applauded, not condemned and insulted. His actions set a precedent for responsibility and reform, qualities essential for national progress. Demanding his resignation by a committee of Fifth columnists and pseudo-perfectionists would not only punish transparency but also deter future leaders from owning up to institutional shortcomings.
As Prof. Oloyede aptly stated brilliantly and patriotically, “I apologise for the trauma caused to the candidates.” This episode in our national life serves as a testament to the importance of accountability in leadership. As John C. Maxwell once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” Prof. Oloyede embodies this ethos, demonstrating that true leadership is defined not by the absence of errors, but by the courage to confront and rectify them.
I genuinely pity those calling for the resignation of a public servant over procedural errors that were clearly beyond the agency’s control. Such lapses, while unfortunate, occur daily across institutions and systems worldwide. Ironically, many of these self-proclaimed perfectionists can barely manage a simple WhatsApp group or coordinate a basic family meeting without conflict or confusion. Let us not be deceived, the public is far more discerning than they assume. There is more to the call. We all are not fools!
*Dr. Lukman Raimi, PhD, LL.M, MNIM is an entrepreneurship educator, legal researcher, and good governance advocate.
Sponsored
