JAMB REGISTRAR, PROF OLOYEDE COMMENDS DR AKANBI, ANA PRESIDENT AND HIS FORMER STUDENT ON HIS EFFORTS TO UPLIFT THE ASSOCIATION
Abuja- The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admission & Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede has urged all members and fellows of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) to support the association’s president, Dr Usman Oladipo Akanbi, in his efforts to take the association to the next level.
The JAMB helmsman famed for his moral rectitude made the assertion on Tuesday,23rd January, 2023 while welcoming an ANA delegation led by the President, who coincidentally was his student during his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin to his office.
Other members of the delegation that came for the courtesy visit were the General Secretary, Dame Joan Orji, Ph.D and
Oloyede, an accomplished author and a Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL), urged Dr Akanbi to spare no effort in ensuring that all aggrieved chapters or members came back to the fold, in order to strengthen the association.
He equally suggested some other elders that ANA should pay courtesy visits to, in acknowledgement of their historical role in the development of the Association.
The ANA President informed Prof Oloyede that he led an ANA delegation to his office, to formally inform him of his election and to seek his fatherly blessings and advise, as a stakeholder in the association.
Going further, he explained that he deemed it pertinent to lead his team on a courtesy visit to the JAMB Headquarters because of the role the two organizations play in the education sector.
In her own speech, the ANA General Secretary, Dame Orji, a retired educationist marvelled at their host’s humility, describing him as the quintessential servant -leader.
According to her, she was surprised to meet the celebrated JAMB Chief Executive, at the board’s staff canteen, having his lunch, alongside other members of staff, including the junior ones.
She had this to say about the encounter:
“Immediately after sitting down (in the Registrar/CEO’s office), we were led out again by a gentleman who took us to the Staff Canteen, where we were served lunch alongside all the JAMB Staff.
“As we settled down to eat, Dr Akanbi got up shortly to walk up in the direction of the serving counter. When he returned and didn’t bring anything else with him, I asked what he’d gone back to do.
“I went to greet the Prof.”
“Who?” I looked around.
“The Registrar.”
“Was I shocked? I was flabbergasted and flummoxed at the sight of the powerful JAMB Registrar/CEO eating his lunch with subordinates and junior workers at the Canteen. Ha! Talk of Servant-Leaders that I read so much about in Philosophy textbooks but never met any in real life!
“I too rose to go and greet him, especially after he was told who I was.
“I was greeting you this morning on Arise TV, Prof, but you didn’t see me,” I joked with the ‘Big Man’ of JAMB whose tenure had been renewed by the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari”
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of JAMB souvenirs to Dr Akanbi and the other members of his delegation.
