I was not unduly favoured by UNILORIN, says Oloyede’s son

Mr. Abdulkarim Oloyede, son of the Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has denied his father played any role to influence his employment and privileges in the school.

Oloyede was reacting to a three-part investigative report by The Nation titled: “Exposed: How corruption, favoritism thrive in UNILORIN”, which revealed that the younger Oloyode benefited from his father’s alleged nepotism.

Oloyede, who is a lecturer in the Department of Telecommunication Science, described the report as “mischievous and an attempt to tarnish his reputation”.

In a three-page letter to the editor, the younger Oloyede said: “Let me put it on record that, at no time did I request for, enjoy or benefit from any form of scholarship from the University of Ilorin before, during or after my father’s tenure.

“It is noteworthy that the acceleration policy of the University of Ilorin on instant release for postgraduate studies had been in place long before I joined the university.

“The Staff Development Award has been a long-standing policy that an academic staff member who wants to pursue a postgraduate programme will be given the opportunity for salary supplementation after signing of a bond, irrespective of the length of time he or she has been in the system.”

Dr. Oloyede denied receiving any money beyond his salary, saying his appointment was based on merit and in accordance with the school’s procedure for employment.

He wondered why he should be prevented from seeking employment at UNILORIN for being the son of the former VC, adding that he qualified for the job based on his academic credential and Nigerian citizenship.

He said: “My appointment at the University of Ilorin followed a response to an advertisement by the university, which was made open to all Nigerians and published on May 1, 2012 in many newspapers… I was shortlisted, interviewed and found appoint-able in accordance with the laid down procedure. My father was not present nor did he participate in the process of my assessment.

“It is not unlikely that it was because I was an applicant that he delegated the evaluated process to the leadership of the faculty to which I applied. I later got to know that I was adjudged to be either the best or second best of those eventually appointed. I wonder if being the son of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede should deny me my right as a Nigerian to seek employment in the university where I am qualified for same.”

Dr. Oloyede said the allegations contained in the report did not represent him and the principle he stands for.

He said the writer was out to malign his character.