The family of Timilehin Faith Opesusi, a 19-year-old girl from Abeokuta, is grieving after she died by suicide following disappointment over her 2025 JAMB UTME result, where she scored 190.
According to eyewitnesses and sources in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State, where she resided with her elder sister, Timilehin had applied to study Microbiology and was devastated by the drop in her performance compared to the previous year.
Described by neighbours as “gentle and humble”, Timilehin had been hopeful about gaining admission this year after a better outing in 2024. But her spirits reportedly plummeted upon checking the latest result.
Sources revealed that Timilehin ingested rodent poison on Monday morning at their residence. She later showed up at her sister’s office asking for palm oil, a traditional remedy for poisoning. Alarmed by her condition and statement, her sister raised the alarm and rushed her to Kolak Hospital in Odogunyan.
Sadly, despite efforts by medical staff, Timilehin was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
In a tragic twist, a provisional admission notification from her chosen institution arrived in her Gmail inbox just 30 minutes after her death, indicating that she had been conditionally admitted based on her application.
Her devastated parents, upon learning of her demise, travelled to Lagos and took her body back to Abeokuta for burial.
Local residents and sympathisers expressed deep frustration, not only over the loss of a promising life but also over what many are calling “systemic failure” in this year’s JAMB examination results.
One resident stated: “It’s heartbreaking. Young people are being overwhelmed by pressure and a flawed system. JAMB must be held accountable for the mental stress students go through every year.”
Several community members pointed to what they described as widespread failure in the 2025 JAMB results, which they claim contributed to growing anxiety and hopelessness among candidates.
This tragic incident has once again thrown the spotlight on the mental health of Nigerian students, especially during national examinations like the UTME. Experts have continuously urged stakeholders, including parents and educational institutions, to offer psychological support and counselling services for candidates, especially in high-stakes testing periods.
Some mental health advocates have called on the Ministry of Education and JAMB to include mental health awareness campaigns as part of UTME preparation.
While investigations into the case continue, many have described Timilehin’s death as a wake-up call for both parents and authorities. Her case underscores the urgent need for reforms in the Nigerian education system, especially around how student performance is measured and the pressure it creates.
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