Professor Oloyede’s openness reflects not only personal values of accountability but also institutional courage.
By Saidu Idris
365Daily – The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has commended the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its transparency and accountability in addressing issues that arose during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the examination body’s admission of lapses as an exemplary act of public leadership.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a statement issued by the Deputy Director of Media and Communication, Paul Odenyi, on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
The NOA hailed Oloyede’s forthrightness, saying it should serve as a benchmark for other public institutions. It hailed him for demonstrating integrity and responsibility in the face of criticism, saying such actions align with the values enshrined in the National Values Charter (NVC).
“Professor Oloyede’s openness reflects not only personal values of accountability but also institutional courage. This is what the NVC expects of our public institutions—to own up, act with honesty, and uphold the public trust,” the DG stated.
However, the NOA urged JAMB to go beyond transparency and take concrete remedial steps to support affected candidates and their families.
Onilu emphasised that “recognition of mistakes is the first step, but redemption and restitution must follow. Having agreed to offer candidates another opportunity, JAMB should also consider appropriate compensation to address the stress and anxiety caused.”
He stressed that the NOA remains committed to fostering a governance culture rooted in trust and integrity, and called on other public agencies to emulate JAMB’s example by being transparent and proactive when faced with institutional challenges.
“Institutions that own their errors and take steps to rectify them will ultimately earn the respect and confidence of the people,” he added.
The NOA also used the opportunity to reinforce its ongoing campaign to instill the principles of the National Values Charter across all sectors of society, with a focus on promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.
Mallam Onilu concluded by reaffirming the agency’s dedication to advocating responsible citizenship and value-driven leadership, noting that Nigeria’s development hinges on the collective commitment of citizens and institutions to uphold shared national values.