Psychologists Call for Action After Lagos Student’s Suicide Linked to UTME Results Pressure
By Uthman Salami | May 14, 2025
The tragic death of Timilehin, a 19-year-old Lagos student, has led to renewed calls for better mental health support for students under the intense pressure of academic exams. Timilehin, who was reported to have taken her life after receiving her 2025 UTME results, was a quiet and promising teenager living in Ikorodu, Lagos.
She had scored 190 on the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a result she believed was worse than her previous score from the previous year. Grief-stricken community members have blamed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for exacerbating her distress, while mental health experts are calling for an overhaul in how students are supported during exam periods.
Mental Health Experts Weigh In
Michael Jacob, a psychotherapist and founder of Emotion Compass Academy, emphasized the importance of separating academic performance from personal worth.
“Your value is not defined by a number on a result slip. If one door closes, another will open—but you must still be here to walk through it,” Jacob urged students struggling with disappointment.
Jacob explained that failing an exam doesn’t equate to being a failure as a person. Instead, he called for greater compassion towards students during tough times and encouraged them to seek support rather than suffer in silence.
“When emotional pain becomes unbearable, the most important thing is not to suffer in silence. Speak to someone you trust—a counsellor, a therapist, a parent, or a teacher,” Jacob added.
The Pressures Students Face
Psychologist Patricia Udosen also highlighted the overwhelming pressure students face, particularly around exam results. She noted how unmet expectations could lead to severe emotional distress.
“It’s normal to feel disappointed, frustrated, or sad after experiencing failure. With the right mindset and support, students can emerge stronger and more resilient,” Udosen said.
She advised students to process their emotions constructively and encouraged them to reach out for support when needed.
“Focus on your effort and determination, not just the results,” Udosen added while addressing parents.
Normalizing Failure and Building Resilience
Clinical Psychologist Hammed Lateefat joined the conversation, stressing the importance of normalizing failure as part of life.
“Failure does not define who you are. It’s essential that students see failure as a stepping stone to success,” Lateefat said.
Lateefat urged students not to let failure affect their mental health and to learn from their setbacks.
JAMB Responds to Outcry
In response to the public outcry, JAMB announced that it would review the 2025 UTME results. Fabian Benjamin, the spokesperson for the board, stated that JAMB is conducting an expedited review following a significant volume of complaints about the exam results.
“We are reviewing the results and conducting a post-mortem of the process to address the concerns raised,” Benjamin said.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The death of Timilehin serves as a stark reminder of the toll academic pressures can take on young people. As mental health experts and communities call for better emotional support systems, the discussion around students’ well-being during exams is more urgent than ever.
