Faith Opesusi Timileyin, a 19-year-old aspiring microbiologist, tragically took her own life shortly after checking her 2025 JAMB result. Her score, 146, left her devastated, despite scoring much higher the previous year. Her family believes the shock and disappointment played a key role in her decision.
Here are four things her family wants the public to know:
- She was hopeful and hardworking:
Faith had previously secured university admission but turned it down to stay closer to her sister. Her dream to study microbiology was still very much alive. - The result wasn’t like her:
Her father insists that the score released was uncharacteristic of his daughter’s performance, and believes something went wrong. - She didn’t speak up:
According to her father, Faith didn’t share her pain or disappointment. If she had, they might have been able to comfort her and remind her that hope still existed. - She wasn't alone in this:
JAMB admitted to technical errors in the 2025 UTME, with over 379,000 candidates scheduled to retake the exam. The board’s head, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has apologised, acknowledging the pain caused.
Faith’s story is a painful reminder of the emotional toll high-stakes exams can take, and the need for better support systems for young Nigerians navigating academic pressure.
