‘Sultan/Oloyede’s combination, a blessing to NSCIA’

The combination of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, as the President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the immediate past Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, as its Secretary General has been described as a blessing to the council.

The Deputy Secretary General of the Council, Professor Salisu Shehu, made the remark at a recent civic reception organised in honour of Oloyede by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), in Abuja.

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Shehu, who represented the Sultan at the event, said the combination of both personalities had raised the NSCIA to a level that all parts of Nigeria now had a sense of belonging.

“The combination of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Professor Oloyede as Secretary General of the Council is a blessing to the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

“By the combination, no doubt, the Supreme Council has been raised to a level that all parts of Nigeria has a sense of belonging. Both have been carrying everyone along,” he said.

According to him, unlike in the past, NSCIA has been alive to its responsibility and “has been responding to everything that affects Nigerian Muslims and Islam” in the country.

He described the former JAMB boss as a detribalised Nigerian, whose personal discipline and experience have contributed largely to Oloyede’s successes as vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin and at JAMB.

While commending Oloyede for a job well done at JAMB, Shehu said one area many Nigerians praising the former Registrar did not touch was giving equal opportunity to all Nigerians, particularly physically challenged individuals, to compete for admissions into Nigerian universities.

He informed that “Professor Oloyede appointed JAMB Equal Opportunity Group. This gave better opportunity to people with disabilities, for instance blind candidate.

“JAMB under him set up four centres and equally provided everything the special candidates needed for their examination, including accommodation, feeding and transportation. Before he finally left office as JAMB Registrar, these centres were increased to 11.”

While praying to Allah to continue to bless Oloyede, Shehu said the former JAMB chief still had more to offer as Nigeria had yet to benefit fully from his vast experience, capacity and innovative competence.