The National President of the Osogbo Grammar School Alumni Association (OGSAA), Home and Abroad, Otunba Dr. Tola Winjobi, has called on the Federal Government to overhaul the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing the current multiple-test admission system as burdensome and counterproductive for students.
Winjobi made this appeal during his welcome address at the 2025 Old Students’ Day celebration, held at Osogbo Grammar School, Osun State, on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
Speaking on the theme, “Teaching for Knowledge, Teaching for Fun,” he emphasized that the current structure of JAMB appears to be designed to set students up for failure, stating that much of the examination content surpasses the comprehension level of secondary school leavers.
“We should all decry the multiple tests required to gain admission into higher institutions in Nigeria. Government should overhaul JAMB. As it stands, JAMB seems structured to fail students, with exam content that exceeds what many secondary school graduates can handle,” he said.
Winjobi further argued that even after students endure the stress of preparing for and writing JAMB, they still face post-UTME screening and departmental cut-off marks at various universities. He suggested that the role of JAMB has become obsolete and recommended that universities be allowed to conduct their own entrance examinations.
Highlighting the significance of the day’s event, Dr. Winjobi who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development—described it as an opportunity for alumni excelling in various professional fields to give back to their alma mater through mentorship and engagement.
“Our alumni, from professions such as nursing, law, engineering, ICT, teaching, and development, volunteered their time today to teach, give career talks, and share their life stories with current students. Some are even conducting vocational training,” he noted.
He applauded the Osun State Government for instituting the Old Students’ Day initiative and commended OGSAA for being the first alumni association in the state to actively organize and implement the programme.
“This is an epoch-making event. Osogbo Grammar School, established in 1950 as the first grammar school in the Osun Division, remains a pacesetter. OGSAA is proud to be the first association to host a themed Old Students’ Day focused on both knowledge and fun,” he said.
Winjobi urged other state governments and alumni associations across Nigeria to emulate the initiative and organize similar events to strengthen ties with their former schools and contribute to education development.
He also called on government at all levels to prioritize the renovation of school infrastructure, lamenting the poor conditions in many public schools.
“It is an eyesore to see students receiving lessons under trees due to dilapidated buildings. Some even use torchlights and mobile phone flashlights to write exams at night, while others sit on windowsills or cement blocks due to lack of chairs. This is unacceptable,” he stressed.
Concluding his address, Winjobi thanked the Principal of Osogbo Grammar School, members of the OGSAA National Executive Council, alumni, staff, and students for their dedication and active participation in the programme.
“Each year, we come up with a unique theme ourselves, as the government hasn’t provided any. I urge that each year’s celebration should be given proper structure, with themes and activities that inspire both nostalgia and forward-thinking,” he said.
