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A 19-year-old student, Timilehin Faith Opesusi, tragically died by suicide in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos, on May 12, 2025, after scoring 190 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has since admitted to errors in the exam process, prompting a review of results.
Timilehin, originally from Abeokuta and residing with her elder sister, was reportedly distressed by her UTME score, which she believed was lower than her 2024 result. She ingested a rodenticide known as “Push Out” and passed away at Kolak Hospital despite medical efforts. Tragically, 30 minutes after her death, she received an email confirming her provisional admission to study Microbiology, her desired course.
Following widespread complaints about the 2025 UTME, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, apologized for technical glitches that affected over 387,000 candidates’ results. Issues included frozen screens and missing questions during the computer-based test. JAMB announced an expedited result review on May 13, 2025, with a stakeholder panel set to convene on May 15 to investigate further.
Public reaction on X has been intense, with users mourning Timilehin’s loss and criticizing JAMB’s exam management. The incident has sparked calls for better mental health support and reforms to ease academic pressures on Nigerian students. JAMB maintains that the results reflect typical performance trends, with over 75% of candidates historically scoring below 200.
Authorities are urging students to seek support and reminding the public that academic setbacks do not define self-worth. Timilehin’s family is receiving condolences as the nation grapples with this loss.
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