A 19-year-old girl, Tmilehin Faith Opesusi, tragically took her own life in Ikorodu, Lagos, after scoring 190 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a heartbreaking twist, she reportedly received a provisional admission notification via email just 30 minutes after her death.
Faith, originally from Abeokuta, Ogun State, was living with her older sister in the Odogunyan area of Ikorodu. Described by neighbours as quiet and humble, she was said to be devastated by her UTME result. According to a close friend, Faith had repeatedly expressed her disappointment and despair before ingesting rodent poison on Monday.
She had gone to her sister’s office shortly after taking the poison and asked for palm oil—commonly used in emergencies to counteract poison. Alarmed by her behaviour, her sister quickly raised an alarm and rushed her to Kolak Hospital, where Faith admitted she had attempted suicide. She was confirmed dead shortly after arrival. Tragically, just 30 minutes after her passing, a notification of provisional admission into a tertiary institution appeared in her Gmail inbox, deepening the emotional toll on her family and sparking outrage online.
The incident comes amid a national outcry over this year’s UTME results. According to JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, over 1.9 million candidates sat for the exam, but only 12,414 scored above 300—representing just 0.63% of candidates. Meanwhile, 78% scored below 200, including Faith. JAMB is currently withholding the results of nearly 40,000 candidates due to suspected examination malpractice.
Investigations are ongoing, with 80 individuals under interrogation and Anambra State recording the highest number of suspects. The tragic death of Faith Opesusi has intensified calls for reform. In response to widespread criticism, JAMB has invited key education stakeholders—including Alex Onyia, CEO of EDUCARE—to join a review panel tasked with auditing the conduct of the 2025 UTME and recommending improvements. The panel will convene on May 15.
This dramatic reversal comes after JAMB initially defended the results, stating they accurately reflected candidates’ abilities. Faith’s story has become a painful reminder of the pressure placed on Nigerian students and the need for systemic change in the country’s education system.Pass It On:
