When Timilehin Faith Opesusi, a 19‑year‑old candidate from Ikorodu in Lagos State, saw her 2025 UTME score of 190 out of 400, she took her own life. The tragedy unfolded on Monday, 12 May 2025, just 30 minutes before a university admission letter arrived at her doorstep. The incident has sparked a nationwide outcry, with the National Association of Nigerian Students demanding that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board be held accountable.
Background: UTME pressure and Nigeria’s education system
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is the gatekeeper for entry into Nigeria’s universities. Scores determine not only which institution a student can attend but also which course they can study. Over the past decade, the stakes have risen, and with them, the mental‑health toll on candidates. A 2023 survey by the Nigerian Institute of Psychological Sciences found that 42 % of UTME aspirants reported severe anxiety in the weeks leading up to results day.
In recent years, several states have complained about irregularities in result processing, but Lagos’s case in 2025 became the most visible. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) acknowledged that glitches affected candidates in Lagos and five South‑East states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo – though it stopped short of revealing how many students were impacted.
Timeline of Opesusi’s case
- Early May 2025 – UTME examinations conducted across Nigeria.
- 7 May 2025 – JAMB releases provisional results online.
- 12 May 2025, 09:30 GMT – Timilehin Faith Opesusi checks her result: 190/400.
- 12 May 2025, 10:00 GMT – She ingests ‘Push Out’ rodent poison at her family home in Ikorodu.
- 12 May 2025, 10:30 GMT – A university admission letter, confirming a place in a diploma programme, is delivered to her family.
- 14 May 2025 – News Central TV’s Jasiri episode airs, featuring interviews with Opesusi’s father and mental‑health experts.
- 15 May 2025 – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) releases a statement, led by Vice‑President (National Affairs) Tenyo Dighopho, demanding JAMB’s resignation of its registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, and compensation for the family.
Reactions: From student bodies to mental‑health advocates
"The board’s negligence cost a precious young life," said Tenyo Dighopho in the NANS press release. "We demand a full overhaul and the immediate resignation of Prof. Ishaq Oloyede." The statement, posted on 15 May, quickly went viral, gathering more than 150,000 retweets and sparking street protests outside JAMB’s Abuja headquarters.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Ms. Adaeze Nwankwo, responded on 16 May, acknowledging the “technical errors” and promising an independent audit. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Miss Opesusi and extend our heartfelt condolences," she said, adding that the board would "review its result verification processes and provide support to affected families."
Psychiatrist Dr. Chinyere Okeke, a consultant at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, warned that “the current culture glorifies a single exam as the sole determinant of a young person’s future.” She urged the Ministry of Education to embed mandatory counseling services in every secondary school.
Calls for reform: What NANS and experts are demanding
- Immediate resignation of Prof. Isaq Oloyede as JAMB registrar.
- A statutory compensation package for the Opesusi family – figures have not been disclosed, but NANS describes it as “necessary restitution”.
- Full technical audit of the 2025 UTME result‑processing algorithm, with findings made public.
- Institutionalized mental‑health support: on‑site counselors during result release periods, and a national helpline.
- Legislative action to diversify admission criteria beyond a single exam score.
Senator Olumide Akintola (Lagos‑East) announced on 17 May that he would draft a bill to create a "Student Wellness Commission" tasked with overseeing mental‑health provisions in tertiary admission processes.
 
Broader implications: A wake‑up call for Nigeria’s education sector
The Opesusi case is not an isolated incident. In 2022, a similar tragedy in Port Harcourt drew attention to the link between exam pressure and youth suicides, though it never resulted in policy change. What makes the current outcry different is the convergence of social media amplification and a coordinated student‑union response.
Economists warn that if the mental‑health crisis among students continues unchecked, Nigeria could lose up to 2 % of its future skilled workforce, translating to roughly 400,000 potential graduates each year. That loss would ripple through the economy, affecting productivity, innovation, and ultimately, Nigeria’s GDP growth trajectory.
For families like the Opesusis, the pain is immediate and personal. In a candid interview with The Cable on 14 May, the father said, "She dreamed of becoming a teacher. The score felt like a verdict, and the world shut down for her in minutes." The story has become a somber litmus test for whether the nation can balance academic rigor with humane support.
What’s next? Monitoring JAMB’s response and potential policy shifts
All eyes are now on JAMB’s board meeting scheduled for 22 May. If Prof. Oloyede steps down, it could set a precedent for accountability in federal agencies. Meanwhile, NANS has pledged to stage a sit‑in at JAMB’s Abuja office until their demands are met.
International observers, including the African Union’s Education Department, have offered technical assistance to overhaul Nigeria’s examination infrastructure. Whether that assistance will translate into concrete reforms remains to be seen, but the pressure is undeniably mounting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Timilehin Opesusi’s death affect other UTME candidates?
The incident has heightened anxiety among thousands of candidates awaiting results, prompting many schools to request additional counseling services. It also forces policymakers to reconsider the weight placed on a single exam for university admission.
What specific errors did JAMB admit to in the 2025 results?
JAMB confirmed technical glitches that led to miscalculated scores for candidates in Lagos and five South‑East states – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo. The board has not disclosed the exact number of affected students, but internal memos suggest several thousand may have received inaccurate marks.
Who is responsible for investigating JAMB’s alleged negligence?
The Federal Ministry of Education has tasked an independent panel, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice Chike Obi, to review JAMB’s result‑processing systems. The panel will submit its findings to the Senate Committee on Education within 90 days.
What reforms are being proposed to protect student mental health?
Proposals include mandatory on‑site counseling during result weeks, a national 24‑hour helpline, and a legislative bill to create a Student Wellness Commission that would oversee mental‑health policies across all tertiary admission processes.
Will JAMB’s registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, be removed?
NANS and several student groups have demanded his resignation. While JAMB has not confirmed any personnel changes, the upcoming board meeting on 22 May is expected to address the issue, and a resignation could set a precedent for accountability.
 
                                 
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                           
                                                                                          
Pratap Chaudhary
October 10, 2025 AT 04:30 AMThe whole situation is a real heart‑breaker. It shows just how brutal the exam culture can be, especially when a single number decides someone's future. We need more counselling and less pressure, otherwise more families will suffer.
Ranga Mahesh Kumara Perera
October 12, 2025 AT 12:03 PMWhile the grief is undeniable, we also have to examine why the system let this happen. JAMB’s technical glitches are a symptom of deeper governance issues, and pointing fingers at one registrar won’t fix the structural flaws. The union's demands are justified, but sustainable reform requires a transparent audit and a revamp of result verification protocols.
Shonali Nazare
October 14, 2025 AT 19:37 PMTL;DR: the UTME algorithm needs a sanity check asap 😊
avinash pandey
October 17, 2025 AT 03:10 AMThe tragedy of Timilehin Opesusi is not merely a footnote in the annals of Nigerian education; it is a stark manifestation of a system that has long commodified youthful aspiration into a single numeric token. When a score of 190 out of 400 determines the trajectory of a nineteen‑year‑old, we are effectively allowing an algorithm to adjudicate hope, identity, and self‑worth. The collective psyche of students has been conditioned to equate personal value with a fleeting moment of examination, a phenomenon that psychologists have warned can precipitate severe existential distress. The 2023 survey referenced in the article, citing 42 % severe anxiety, is a quantifiable echo of this cultural malaise. Moreover, the technical glitches confessed by JAMB expose a fragility in the very infrastructure that purports to be the gatekeeper of academic progress. If thousands of candidates received inaccurate marks, the ripple effects extend beyond individual heartbreak to systemic mistrust. The outcry from NANS, while emotionally charged, underscores a legitimate demand for accountability that transcends partisan politics. Resignation of a single registrar, though symbolically potent, will not rectify the entrenched bureaucratic inertia that allowed opaque result‑processing algorithms to persist. A comprehensive audit, coupled with an overhaul of admission criteria, is essential to dismantle the monolithic reliance on UTME scores. In parallel, integrating mandatory mental‑health counseling during result weeks can act as a buffer against the acute psychological shock that follows adverse outcomes. The proposal for a Student Wellness Commission, as championed by Senator Akintola, represents a legislative pathway to institutionalize such safeguards. International partners, including the African Union, could provide technical expertise not only for system reliability but also for embedding psychosocial support mechanisms. It is imperative that any reform balances rigor with humanity, lest we continue to produce a generation of graduates haunted by the specter of failure. The broader economic implications, highlighted by the projected loss of 400,000 skilled workers annually, add a sobering fiscal dimension to the moral imperative. Ultimately, the legacy of Timilehin’s untimely death must catalyze a paradigm shift that redefines success beyond a solitary examination, fostering a holistic, resilient, and compassionate educational ecosystem.
Aakanksha Ghai
October 18, 2025 AT 20:50 PMAccountability should start at the top, but it must also permeate every layer of the admission process. The board’s negligence is inexcusable, and families deserve restitution that reflects both financial loss and emotional trauma.
Roushan Verma
October 20, 2025 AT 14:30 PMI agree that dialogue is essential; perhaps a mediated forum between JAMB, student unions, and mental‑health professionals could pave the way for constructive change.
Smita Paul
October 21, 2025 AT 23:50 PMFor anyone looking for immediate help, the National Suicide Prevention Helpline now operates 24/7 at 0800‑CALL‑HELP, and many secondary schools are setting up on‑site counselors during result periods.
Meera Kamat
October 23, 2025 AT 09:10 AMYour info is super useful! 🙌
Let's spread the word so no one feels alone.
Abhinav Chauhan
October 24, 2025 AT 12:57 PMHonestly, the whole exam drama is just a big fail. JAMB should be scrapped, not reformed.
Manisha Jasman
October 25, 2025 AT 16:43 PMStay hopeful, fam! 🌟 Change is possible when we keep pushing together! 😊
Samradh Hegde
October 26, 2025 AT 14:57 PMWe must remember that JAMB is a federal institution serving all states; external pressure shouldn't undermine its core mission.
Shankar Pandey
October 27, 2025 AT 13:10 PMSuch blind patriotism blinds us to the real corruption; demanding accountability is not anti‑national, it's patriotic.
Raj Kumar
October 28, 2025 AT 11:23 AMIt is worth noting that the timing of the board meeting coincides with undisclosed budget allocations to private tech firms, suggesting a possible conflict of interest that merits further investigation.