Publication

What happens when that very system meant to empower becomes a source of pain?

In the wake of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) crisis, over 380,000 students have been asked to retake the exam after the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted errors in the conduct and release of results. Tragically, 19-year-old Timilehin Faith Opesusi, believing she had failed with a score of 190, reportedly took her own life — only for it to be later revealed that she had already secured provisional admission, reported Daily Trust.

This is more than a statistical mishap. It is a human tragedy. Section 18(1) of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to equal and adequate educational opportunities. When students receive incorrect results without an immediate, accessible redress mechanism, their right to education and to dignity is undermined.

While the JAMB Registrar’s apology is a step toward accountability, it is not enough. An apology does not resurrect lost hope or erase trauma. Fundamental reforms must follow, including psychological support for affected students, transparent result verification systems, and stronger safeguards to prevent future failures.

As a nation, we must do better. We owe our students not just exams, but a system that is just, humane, and worthy of their dreams. Let this be the turning point — where we finally choose compassion over negligence, and accountability over damage control.