The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, says the Federal Government’s decision to remove Mathematics as a requirement for students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes in tertiary institutions will help curb certificate forgery.
Oloyede stated this during the formal opening ceremony of the Jihad Week organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Ibadan, and the inauguration of Ad-Dhikr Magazine on Sunday in Ibadan.
The JAMB Registrar explained that the policy had long existed but was not implemented, adding that the Ministry of Education merely aligned it with present realities to discourage forgery.
“How will you say somebody who wants to study Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Arabic should be denied university admission because they don’t have Mathematics, when such a person could go to the University of London to study Yoruba without Mathematics?
What the Ministry of Education is doing is realigning the policy with reality on the ground, and it is in our interest not to encourage forgery,” Oloyede said.
Oloyede, who was a guest lecturer, spoke on the theme “The Paragon,” noting that a paragon is someone to be emulated. He urged Muslims to strive to become role models wherever they find themselves.
He added that MSSN, being a mass movement of Muslim students, must continue to unite Muslims without discrimination and propagate Islam not only through preaching but also through exemplary conduct.
“MSSN has the capacity to invite people to see the beauty of Islam. The current MSSN must continue to do that — building genuine and sincere relationships among one another,” said the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Idris Adeoye, commended the founding fathers of MSSN for their efforts in nurturing and guiding Muslim students. He urged the students to be complete Muslims and worthy ambassadors of Islam.
Adeoye further advised Nigerian youths to believe in their country and avoid acts capable of jeopardising their future.
Earlier, the Ameer of MSSN, University of Ibadan, Umar Faruq, lamented that many abnormalities in society have become accepted as normal, while those who try to correct them are often branded wicked.
Faruq urged Muslims, especially youths, to avoid internet fraud, alcohol consumption, and other acts contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an.
“As Muslims, we must stand tall and be role models in our deeds — academically, spiritually, and mentally,” he said.
In his remarks, the Vice President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Rafiu Ebiti, noted that MSSN plays a vital role not only in Islam but also in the educational development of Nigeria.
He said societal changes were inevitable, urging MSSN to adapt positively to them and continue bringing more Muslims together without discrimination.
Founded in 1954, the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) promotes Islamic education, unity, and welfare among Muslim students across the country. The organisation also engages in socio-cultural, educational, and religious activities, including vocational training, leadership programmes, and inter-school competitions.
