A 19-year-old girl identified as Timilehin Faith Opesusi has reportedly taken her own life after scoring below her expectations in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The tragic incident occurred at her family’s residence in the Ejigbo area of Lagos, where she was found dead after allegedly consuming a poisonous substance.
Family members and neighbours have expressed shock at the incident, describing Timilehin as a bright and promising student who had been preparing intensely for the UTME.
According to sources, she had high hopes of achieving an impressive score to secure admission into her preferred university, but her performance fell significantly short of her target.
It was gathered that Timilehin was visibly distraught after seeing her results, despite efforts by family members to console her. They reportedly tried to reassure her that the outcome was not the end of her academic journey, but their words seemingly had little effect.
A neighbour, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that Timilehin’s parents were devastated by the loss. They expressed deep regret, noting that they did not foresee the drastic step she would take. Community members have expressed sadness over the incident, emphasising the need for mental health support, particularly for young people dealing with academic pressures.
The police have confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation is ongoing. Authorities have urged students and parents to seek help when facing emotional challenges, stressing that no examination result, like UTME, is worth a life.
Mental health advocates have called for increased awareness of the pressures young Nigerians face when preparing for important exams, pointing out that societal expectations often amplify stress.
They recommend fostering supportive environments for students and providing counselling services in schools to address emotional and psychological issues in examinations like UTME and WAEC.
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cc: The Guardian Ng
