By Dr. Fabian Benjamin
Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, scholar, public intellectual and administrator per excellence was born on the 10th October, 1954 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. He has spent the last four decades in teaching, research and public service, which has enabled him to build bridges in the tertiary education sector of Nigeria and at the international level. Starting from the position of Assistant Lecturer in 1982, he rose through the ranks to become a Professor of international repute in 1995. Before his appointment as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Nigeria (2007 – 2012), he was a Deputy Vice Chancellor,Administration (2005 – 2007), a Deputy Vice Chancellor,Academic (2003 – 2005) and a Director of Academic Planning of the University (2001 – 2003).
He has also served as the Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and Committee of Vice-Chancellors (2011 – 2012) and Co-Secretary of National Political Reform Conference (2005 – 2006). He is presently the National Coordinator of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (2007 to date); and Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (2013 to date).
At the international level, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has held several distinguished positions including being the president of the Association of African Universities (AAU) [2009 – 2011]; Membership of the Board of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (2010 – 2012); and Deputy Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Association of Universities (IAU) [2008 – 2011]; and Secretary-General, Association of West African Universities (AWAU) [2013 – 2017]. He is presently the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board – an institution which has become a reference point in effective public service delivery, transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
Prof. Oloyede is widely published in reputable journals and other academic literature. His multi-cultural upbringing and cosmopolitan mindset has endeared him to many. He has served as Consultant to several national and international organisations and bodies, including the World Council of Churches on Christian and Muslim dialogue.
Prof. Oloyede has been recognized and honoured with several Awards. He is a fellow of many academies such as Academy of Letters; Nigerian Institute of Management, Nigerian Academy of Entrepreneurial Studies, Society for Peace Studies and Practice; and Islamic Academy of Cambridge. He holds the Nigerian National Honours of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). In November, 2019, he was also conferred with the National Productivity Order of Merit Award. Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede is happily married. He is blessed with children and grandchildren.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin is the Head of Media, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB.