Tragedy struck in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Monday as 19-year-old Opesusi Faith Timilehin reportedly took her own life after scoring 190 in the recently released Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Opesusi, who lived in Odogunyan with her elder sibling, had been aiming to study Microbiology. According to a family source, this was her second attempt at the UTME, and she had scored higher in the 2024 edition, making the recent result particularly devastating for her.

Neighbours described Opesusi as a “gentle and humble” young woman, adding to the shock and sorrow surrounding her sudden death.

Events took a tragic turn when Opesusi visited her sister’s office, requesting palm oil to ease the intense pain she was experiencing. Initially unaware of her sister's situation, her sibling reportedly brushed off the request, only to later raise an alarm when the severity of Opesusi's condition became clear.

As they rushed her to the hospital, Opesusi confessed to having taken a rodent poison known as ‘Push Out’ at home before seeking help at her sister's workplace. Sadly, she was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at Kolak Hospital in Odogunyan.

In a cruel twist of fate, just 30 minutes after she passed away, Opesusi received a provisional admission offer from JAMB via her Gmail, a heartbreaking detail that has left the community reeling.

Her parents, upon hearing the devastating news, reportedly rushed to Ikorodu to recover their daughter’s remains, while residents, stunned by the tragic sequence of events, expressed their grief and frustration, directing their anger toward the examination body.

This tragic incident raises important questions about the immense pressure students face during the admission process. Should we be doing more to support our youth as they navigate the challenging journey toward higher education? What role do parents, schools, and society play in reducing this kind of pressure?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this heartbreaking story. How can we prevent such tragedies in the future?