Is-haq Oloyede

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Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede is a Professor of Islamics, an academic and public servant.^[1][2] Born on October 10, 1954,^[3] Oloyede hails from Abeokuta South local government area of Ogun State.^[3] He was the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria,^[4] and the current Registrar and Chief Executive of Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.^[5][6]

Education[]

Oloyede had his Secondary Education from 1969–1973 at the Progressive Institute, Agege Lagos. He then proceeded to learn Arabic and Islamic Studies between 1973–1976 at the prestigious Arabic Training Centre Agege, Lagos, (Markaz) founded by Sheik Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory. Afterwards, he sealed the post-secondary Islamic education with a certificate in Arabic and Islamic Studies, learning advanced Arabic, Islamic Humanities and Sciences, from the University of Ibadan between 1976–1977. His tertiary education began in the University of Ilorin in 1978 where he studied Arabic and was awarded a B.A. Arabic (First Class Hons) in 1981. In July 1982 he was appointed an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Religions of the University. In 1991, he had his Doctorate degree in Islamic Studies also from the University of Ilorin.^[7]

Prof. Oloyede earned several scholarships and prizes during his student days, notable among which were the Arab League prize for the best final year Certificate student in Arabic and Islamic Studies in 1977 at the University of Ibadan; Federal Government undergraduate merit award from 1979 to 1981; Department of Religions Award, University of Ilorin, 1981 and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Award, Unilorin also in 1981.^[8]

Memberships[]

Prof. Oloyede, who had attended several training programmes across the nation, is a member of the Board of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (2010 – 2012); and also a member of many learned and professional societies; • Fellow of the Islamic Academy of Cambridge, United Kingdom. • Fellow, Academy of Entrepreneurship. • Member of Nigerian Association of Teachers of Arabic and Islamic Studies (NATAIS). • Member of Editorial Board, Centre for Islamic Legal Studies, ABU, Zaria, among, several others. • Former National President of the Unilorin Alumni Association (1995 and 1998).^[8][9]

Career[]

Professor Oloyede wears many hats as an accomplished academic, Islamic scholar and luminary public intellectual.^[10][11] Starting as an Assistant Lecturer in 1982, Oloyede rose steadily through the ranks to become a globally respected Professor in 1995 with several articles, authored and co-authored, in reputable local and international outlets.^[12] He was elected the Vice Chancellor of his alma mata; University of Ilorin on 15 October 2007 for a single term of five years during which the university was deeply transformed, becoming well highly-ranked among the best in Africa and the most sough-after university in Nigeria.^[13][14][15] He was able reset Unilorin and instill more discipline while he was the Vice-Chancellor.^[16] Prior to his appointment as Vice Chancellor, he was a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration between 2005–2007, a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic (2003–2005) and a Director of Academic Planning of the University (2001–2003). He was a two-time 1st and 2nd National Vice-President of the University of Ilorin Alumni Association, a member of the University Governing Council; Students’ Disciplinary Committee; Revenue Yielding Committee; Honorary Degree and Monument Committee; Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Member; and Capital Project Implementation Task Force among others.

Outside the town and gown of the university, Oloyede also served as the Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Committee of Vice-Chancellors between 2011–2012. At the international level, he has held several distinguished positions. Between 2009–2011, he was the president of the Association of African Universities (AAU).^[17][18] Other positions include: Deputy Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Association of Universities (IAU) [2008 – 2011]; and Secretary-General, Association of West African Universities (AWAU) [2013 – 2017].^[19] In 2015, he was appointed the (2nd) Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the 3rd Governing Council of Fountain University, Nigeria.^[20] He is also one of the ^[21]

In 2005, he was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as Co-Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference.^[22][23] In 2006, he was appointment as consultant by the National Universities Commission on Educational Reforms in Nigeria. Oloyede became the National Coordinator and Executive Secretary of the National Inter–Religious Council (NIREC) in 2007.^[24] Since 2013, he has been the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).^[25][26]

In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed him as the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB),^[27][28][29] an appointment, personally described "divine"^[30] by him, that was greeted by applauds from several quarters of the Nigerian society.^[31][32][33] Since assumption of office, Oloyede has been widely celebrated^[34][35] for transforming JAMB into a reference point in effective public service delivery,^[36] transparency and accountability^{[37][38][39][40]} in Nigeria with many unprecedented exploits.^{[41][42][43][44][45][46]}

References[]