Jamb must be held accountable for student death, said Nans

The National Nigerian Student Association (Nans) has strongly condemned the joint acceptance and the Matriculation Board (Jamb), holding the examination body responsible for the tragic suicide of Timilehin Faith Opesusi, a young student who reportedly took his own life after receiving a score of 190 in 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Exexier (North).

In a statement issued Thursday by the comr. Tenyo Dighopho, vice president (national affairs) from Nans, the student body expressed anger over what was described as “shameful and unforgivable negligence” by Jamb, adding that the family’s family must be fully compensated by their loss.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (Nans) is very angry by shameful and unforgivable negligence shown by the Joint Revenue and the Matriculation Board (Jamb), an action that now has costs not only academic dreams but also valuable young life in the state of Lagos,” the statement said.

Timilehin, an icorodu resident, Lagos, reportedly ended his life on Tuesday after finding his UTME results. His death has triggered a national debate, especially given the recent recognition of Jamb that more than 379,000 candidates in 65 centers in Lagos and 92 centers in the southeast were influenced by technical errors during 2025 UTME.

Also read: Registrants condemn poor global ranking from Nigeria University, calling for strategic reforms

“While Jamb has openly acknowledged the mistakes in the new UTME results were released especially in Lagos and in the five southeast states, this recognition did not free him from responsibility. Conversely, he confirmed our worst fear: that the council, under the leadership of Prof. Ishaq Olooyede, had failed in the core responsibility,” Nans stated.

The Student Union accuses Jamb to change what should be a routine inspection process of being a source of “trauma, confusion, and losses that cannot be improved.”

“Although Prof. Oloyede might have been praised for introducing reforms in this system, disaster management errors from the UTME 2025 results have fully overshadowed achievements. In a position where precision, credibility, and accountability cannot be negotiated, this disaster makes him not only a leader who makes mistakes, and cannot be negotiated.

“The single mistake that caused the death of a student was more than enough reason to resign. He had to resign with respect, because he no longer held moral or professional authority to lead the institution that determined the future of millions of Nigerian students.”

Describe the incident as “national shame” and “institutional disgrace,” Nans described a series of urgent demands, including:

1. Direct Resignation of Jamb Registrants Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.
2. Full responsibility and compensation by Jamb to mourning families, including financial support, legal assistance, and psychological assistance.
3. Comprehensive reshuffle of jamb inspection and process processing systems, with independent supervision to ensure transparency and accountability.
4. Guarantee that the test is scheduled for 379,997 students affected will be carried out fairly and with dignity.

“This unfavorable event is a slap in dealing with the Nigerian education system and sacrifice ridicule carried out by students, parents, and educators,” the statement continued.

“We did not call for changes from emotions, we demanded it because of the needs. Enough is enough. Nigerian students refuse to be silent while the institutions are intended to serve us as our destruction agents.”

Nans also asked the federal government to launch a full investigation of this problem, swearing that they would continue to demand justice not only for timilehin but for all students whose future had a risk.

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