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Oloyede: JAMB Exam Glitches And Global Thinking, by Jerome-Mario Utomi

From the very moment, some days ago when the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and M...

From the very moment, some days ago when the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was released, which was characterized by unfortunate technical glitches and torrents of reaction, with majority of it harsh, has expectedly trailed the board and its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Olarewaju Oloyede.

While the examination was without doubt marred with appreciable unexpected outcomes thereby leaving some candidates and their parents frustrated and raising questions about the credibility of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Prof. Ishaq Olarewaju Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, an objective analysis of the development, from the global prism, particularly Oloyede's admission of glitches and calls for resit of the examination, reveals something new and different about the Registrar. 

More than anything, it significantly portrays Oloyede as a humble, sincere and transparent leader, who is willing, eager and ready to openly admit his flaws - a lesson other public office holders in Nigeria must draw.

In addition to being a symbol of transparency and accountability, Prof. Ishaq Olarewaju Oloyede’s latest reaction, (or is it an approach) to the crisis is completely, in the opinion of this piece, in line with expectations and demands of global public leadership.  Instead of coming under fire, he is supposed to be praised for his heroic, historic and legendary demonstration of courage.

This piece is not alone in this line of belief.

Take as an illustration, in a well considered research report titled “Why Leaders Should Be Open About Their Flaws?” published by Harvard Business Review, Li Jiang, Maryam Kouchaki and Leslie K John, argued beyond reasonable doubt that; No one is perfect, and that includes leaders. In fact, some of the most successful leaders are those who are open about their flaws and shortcomings. Why? Because being honest about your flaws shows that you're human, and it allows people to see that you're capable of making mistakes and learning from them. It also sets an excellent example for others to follow. 

In the end, leaders who try to hide their imperfections only make themselves look bad. So if you're not comfortable with sharing your flaws with others, remember that it's okay to be imperfect. Embrace your humanity and use your mistakes as opportunities to grow and learn. Your team will respect you all the more for it.

Being open about your flaws according to them, makes you more relatable to others and shows that you're human. Acknowledging that everyone has flaws is the first step towards making us more relatable to each other. Openly sharing your flaws lets you connect with those around you on a much deeper level, displaying vulnerability and allowing your true self to shine through. When we do this brave thing and reveal aspects of ourselves that don’t paint us as perfect, it sets an example for others that it’s okay to be imperfect and even make mistakes - we’re all human. Doing this will not only let us build stronger relationships with everyone else, but also help us become more self-aware in order to better ourselves without creating unrealistic expectations or silencing our inner truth.

In their views, leaders who are open about their flaws are more likely to be respected by their followers. Leaders who are willing to be candid about their own shortcomings demonstrate a sense of humility and humanity that often leads to a greater level of trust and respect from the people they manage. By showcasing vulnerability, leaders can improve communication amongst the team. When team members feel more comfortable expressing themselves, it enables collaborative discussions that can ultimately lead to better resolutions. This type of openness creates an environment in which team members feel heard and respected, leading to increased levels of morale and productive performance. Leaders who are open about their flaws make strong bonds with their followers by allowing them to feel included and appreciated as contributors to the organization's mission.

They said something else; Being open about your flaws allows you to learn from your mistakes and grow as a leader. Owning up to mistakes is an essential part of becoming a leader. Allowing yourself to be open about your flaws and shortcomings allows for radical transparency and the opportunity for growth, both personally and professionally. By candidly discussing your errors and missteps, you'll gain insights from others on how to make necessary changes within yourself. Embracing these weaknesses rather than trying to hide them will help build trust with those around you, strengthening relationships, credibility, and confidence. Learning from mistakes is all part of the process of growing as a leader; being honest with yourself and those around you is the foundation for doing so more effectively.

In like manner, hiding your flaws, the report noted, can make you seem untrustworthy and inauthentic. Everyone has flaws, yet many of us have a tendency to hide them from others. We may think that if we put up a polished façade, no one will notice any shortcomings or imperfections. But this can be surprisingly counterproductive; trying too hard to conceal our flaws can make us appear untrustworthy and inauthentic. People tend to appreciate authenticity, so it's better to admit our weaknesses than pretend they don't exist. Even though it requires some courage, by being honest and upfront about who we are, we communicate to the world that we are genuinely confident in ourselves and worthy of their trust.

Like Oloyode, being open about your flaws demonstrates courage and vulnerability, two qualities that are essential for effective leadership. Showing vulnerability is a sign of strength, not weakness, and nothing demonstrates courage as boldly as acknowledging our flaws. Leaders who can share their mistakes openly and honestly – and accept feedback with grace – often go on to achieve great success. People naturally react positively to someone willing to be vulnerable, open, and honest about their weaknesses; it conveys an aura of trustworthiness and encourages others to be vulnerable in return. Being open about our flaws, instils courage and allows us an opportunity for growth that we wouldn't otherwise have. Successful leaders recognize their weaknesses while embracing the strengths of others - making them the kind of effective leaders we can all learn from!

“Being open about your flaws is crucial to being an effective leader. It shows that you're human and relatable, which will encourage others to follow you. Furthermore, it allows you to learn from your mistakes and grow as a leader. Hiding your flaws, on the other hand, can make you seem untrustworthy and inauthentic. If you want to be an effective leader, start by being open about your flaws” The report concluded.

For their part, Robert Goffee and Gareth Jones, both Professors of Organizational Behaviours at London Business School, in a research report, titled; Why should anyone be led by you, among other findings stated that; when a leader shows the followers his/her weakness(s), it presents him as someone that is genuine and approachable – human and humane, and offers a leader valuable protection’. 

In retrospect, there is every reason to believe that Prof. Ishaq Oloyede is a man with famous dedication to integrity in public office and have, over the years, endeared him to well meaning Nigerians. His innovative ideas and commitment to excellence bring revolution to any public institutions he passes through.

Take as an illustration, when he turned 70 on October 10, 2024, The Sun Newspaper’s Board of Editors found him worthy to receive The Sun Lifetime Achievement Award 2024.

Aside from the floodgate of tributes and accolades opening for a man who has distinguished himself in character and learning, the Newspaper specifically noted that in his career as a public office holder, he has left on the sands of time, footprints of a man of honour. As Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Oloyede brought about a revolution and innovation that laid the foundation for computer-based exams. In fact, he gave computer-based examinations meaning at UNILORIN and has taken it to a higher level in JAMB with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

At the University of Ilorin, from 2007 to 2012, he showed a classical example of how to turn-around a public institution. His era witnessed the transformation of the university from a relatively unknown institution to one of the top 20 universities in Africa, making it a choice place for admission seekers and scholars. In addition to academic excellence at the university, he embarked on massive infrastructure development that added value. He made the building of students’ hostels, laboratories, lecture halls and other facilities his priority.

Under his leadership as Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the examination body has become a study in transparency and accountability. In 2017, Nigerians were shocked to hear that JAMB remitted N7.8 billion to the federal government’s coffers as against the less than N50 million the institution remitted annually between 1978 and 2016.

‘’That singular act raised a lot of questions and answers on accountability and transparency in public office in Nigeria. So far, JAMB, under his watch, has remitted an operating surplus of N20.7 billion to the federal government. It is worthy to note that under Oloyede’s leadership, JAMB has reduced the cost of its application fees by 30 percent and still remits money to the federal government. He is also credited with the creation of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), which ensures that no candidate is discriminated against in the admission process’’.

“Prof Oloyede’s contributions to the development of Islamic law and education cannot be overlooked. With local and international awards, he stands out as a down-to-earth man of achievements” The Sun Newspaper stressed.

What the above tells us is that Professor Oloyede is among the few Nigerians that have built a long-standing reputation of excellence, probity and accountability and therefore, should not be judged or condemned by one mere mistake or omission, which he has already admitted and apologized for.

Utomi, a Media Specialist writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He could be reached via Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/08032725374

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