JAMB appoints Okoro as acting Registrar, as other education boards get new heads

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has appointed its Director of Information Technology Services, Mr Fabian Okoro as the new acting Registrar, to replace Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, whose tenure officially ended, last weekend.

Already, Prof. Oloyede has handed over the agency to Okoro at a ceremony at the Board’s office, Wednesday.

The newly-appointed Acting Registrar, Okoro, who joined JAMB in 1993 as a programmer rose to become a deputy director in 2018.

He is said to be the most senior director in the establishment.

The former registrar’s decision to hand over to Okoro followed the directive by the Ministry of Education that all the concerned chief executives should hand over to the most senior director in their agencies.

Oloyede, who completed his five-year term of office, weekend, has been praised by many for reportedly turning around the examination body, especially in the areas of financial discipline, accountability and war against examination malpractices.

Oloyede, who was appointed as the registrar of JAMB on August 1, 2016, and inaugurated a day after, replaced a professor of measurement, Dibu Ojerinde, who is facing charges bordering on impropriety brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Also, the Deputy Executive Secretary (Academics) at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr. Suleiman Ramon-Yusuf, took over from Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, Thursday, though in acting capacity.

Although Prof. Rasheed’s tenure has ended, he attended a meeting, Thursday, between the Federal Government and leaders of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

The former ES told the meeting that he was representing Education Minister Adamu Adamu.

Prof. Rasheed is a close ally and confidant of the minister.

At the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hameed Bobboyi handed over to the Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical), Dr. Bala Zakari.

Other chief executives who handed over yesterday include: Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof. Segun Ajiboye, handed over to the Director Human Resource Management, Dr. Stella Maryam Nwokeocha; the National Mathematical Centre (NMC), Shedda, Prof. Steven Ejugwu Onah, handed over to the Coordinator of Statistics Programme, Prof. Funmilayo Saporu, as acting Director/Chief Executive.

Chief Executive of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN), Prof. Lanre Aina, handed over to the Director of Virtual Library Services Department, Dr. Oluchi Kalu, on Friday.

Dr. Kalu, a certified Librarian, joined the agency in 1989.

The other appointees whose tenure ended at the weekend include: Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe (National Business and Technical Examination Board, NABTEB), Afolabi Aderinto (Computer Registration Council of Nigeria), Prof. Garba Dahuwa Azare (National Teachers Institute), and Prof. Michael Afolabi (Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria).

Also affected are: Prof. Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche (National Institute of Nigerian Languages), Prof. Lillian Salami (Nigerian Institute for Educational Planning and administration); Prof. Abba Haladu (National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education) and Prof. Bashir Usman (Nomadic Education Commission).

The former chief executives were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 1, 2016 and sworn-in on August 2, 2016 at the auditorium of the NUC in Abuja.