Mass Failure, Suicide, and Tech Glitches: Nigeria’s UTME Exam Scandal Triggers Public Outcry
Nigeria’s national university entrance exam, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is under intense scrutiny after a widespread technical failure left most students with failing scores — and tragically led to the suicide of a 19-year-old candidate.
According to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), nearly 80% of the 1.9 million candidates scored below the 200-point benchmark out of 400, the typical minimum to gain university admission. Only 400,000 students passed the threshold — one of the worst results in years.
The crisis escalated after the death of Faith Opesusi Timileyin, a 19-year-old aspiring microbiologist, who took her own life after scoring 146, down from 193 the previous year. Her devastated father said that the emotional toll of repeated failure led her to ingest poison.
Candidates nationwide reported severe disruptions: blank screens, power outages, and login issues. One student in Abuja, Favour Eke, described how 10 questions were missing, leaving only the multiple-choice options. Others found someone else’s exam loaded on their screen, or had the system crash mid-test.
While JAMB initially defended the poor results, attributing them to a crackdown on cheating, mounting backlash forced the agency to acknowledge technical failures. Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, overcome with emotion, apologized publicly, admitting that “painful damage” had been done.
In response, JAMB has authorized a retest for 380,000 affected students in 157 of the 887 exam centers, starting this Saturday. Areas hit hardest include Lagos and several southeastern states.
The agency explained that system errors prevented proper uploading of responses, prompting an earlier-than-usual audit after what it called “unusual public concern.”
However, not all students will get a second chance. Some, like Favour, who took the test in unaffected zones, are left disqualified for university entry this year despite facing similar glitches.
The UTME, a computer-based test required for all tertiary admissions in Nigeria, was held in March 2025 and marred by nationwide power disruptions. The exam has become notorious for mismanagement and growing public mistrust.
The backlash has reached political and activist circles. Opposition leader Peter Obi called the situation a “grave institutional failure,” while rights advocate Rinu Oduala called for Oloyede’s immediate arrest, labeling the ordeal “educational sabotage.”
With Nigeria’s youth already grappling with high unemployment and limited access to quality education, the UTME debacle adds to a deepening sense of frustration and despair.
