Abuja, Nigeria – A national outcry has erupted after Nigeria’s 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) suffered a series of technical malfunctions, leaving nearly 80% of students below university admission cutoff scores. Tragically, one student has reportedly taken her own life in the aftermath.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)—the agency responsible for administering the exams—acknowledged a “technical glitch” that compromised results for thousands. Of the 1.9 million students who took the test, only 400,000 scored above 200 out of 400, the benchmark for university admission in Nigeria.
Teenager Dies After Second Failed Attempt
Faith Opesusi Timileyin, 19, who had dreams of studying microbiology, died by suicide after receiving a score of 146—lower than her previous year’s result of 193. Her family said the emotional burden of repeated failure pushed her over the edge.
“The pain made her take her own life,” her father told BBC Pidgin. She had already attempted the UTME once before and was devastated to fall short again amid a flawed testing process.
This tragedy has intensified calls to address mental health among students and highlighted systemic failures in Nigeria’s education system.
Massive Technical Failures Reported Across Nigeria
Students have reported blank questions, login failures, mismatched exam profiles, and sudden power outages in multiple regions. One student in Abuja said she could only view multiple-choice answers for 10 questions—the questions themselves never appeared.
“We were told to skip those questions and continue. But how do you focus after that?” said Favour Eke, a third-time UTME taker who is unlikely to secure admission this year.
Others described power cuts mid-exam and being logged into a stranger’s exam portal, wasting precious minutes of their testing window.
JAMB Apologizes, Plans Retake in 157 Centres
JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears during a press conference, apologizing for the “trauma” caused to students and families. He announced that nearly 380,000 affected candidates will be allowed to retake the test in 157 centres starting this weekend.
“This is painful. We are sorry for the damage caused,” said Oloyede.
He noted that the errors were due to technical infrastructure failures in zones like Lagos and southeastern states. Poor internet connectivity and power supply interrupted exam response uploads during the first few days of testing.
Accountability Demanded as Politicians Weigh In
The public backlash has been fierce. Opposition leader Peter Obi called the glitch “a grave issue of institutional failure,” while rights activist Rinu Oduala branded the event “educational sabotage.”
“He should be arrested,” she wrote on social media, calling for the resignation of JAMB leadership.
JAMB initially defended the results, claiming they represented students’ “true academic abilities” after enhanced anti-cheating protocols. But growing pressure forced the agency to review its systems earlier than planned.
Broader Questions on EdTech Readiness
This crisis has reignited debates about Nigeria’s readiness for nationwide computer-based assessments. The UTME is supposed to be a milestone in Nigeria’s education modernization efforts. Yet, basic infrastructure failures—from electricity to server stability—are hampering its effectiveness.
Experts suggest the issue reflects the global digital divide in education, where students in developing nations suffer disproportionately from poorly implemented EdTech systems.
What Happens Now?
The make-up exams begin Saturday. But for thousands like Faith Timileyin, the damage is already irreversible. Education reform advocates are demanding independent investigations and long-term investments in infrastructure and oversight.
Stay informed with the latest updates from Nigeria’s education sector and our special coverage on education reform across Africa.
Need support? Nigerian students facing mental health challenges can contact Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) for 24/7 support and counseling.
