JAMB explains removal of Maths for Arts courses, says it's to align with reality

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has stated that the recent decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory admission requirement for Arts and Humanities courses was made to curb certificate forgery and align official policy with practical realities.

The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, made this clarification while speaking to journalists at an event in Ibadan organized by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN).

Professor Oloyede explained that the policy change, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education, is based on data and widespread consultation. He argued that there is no logical connection between subjects like Yoruba, Arabic, or Creative Arts and a credit pass in Mathematics, noting that prestigious universities abroad do not impose such requirements for these fields.

“What the ministry has just done is to align the realities with the policy,” Oloyede said. He emphasized that the old rule often forced students into forgery, as they could be denied admission solely for lacking a Maths credit, despite being otherwise qualified.

In the same address, the JAMB Registrar also supported the federal government’s embargo on establishing new universities. He stated that the pause is intended to strengthen existing institutions and ensure quality, rather than creating “mushroom universities” without the capacity to function effectively.

Oloyede urged the MSSN to propagate Islam through both preaching and good conduct. Another speaker at the event, Adeoye, advised Nigerian youths to maintain belief in the nation and its potential.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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