IIn today’s world, technology is supposed to make learning easier. However, for many Nigerian students, it has become a source of frustration. Whether it is the e-learning platforms that refuse to open or the computer-based examinations that suddenly crash, the story is the same. Now, this technology failure was first noticed during the UTME and WAEC examinations. Now it is resurfacing in university post-UTME examinations.
Recently, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) faced heavy criticism after its post-UTME screening for the 2025/2026 academic session was reportedly undermined by repeated system glitches. Similar complaints were raised by candidates at the University of Ibadan (UI) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), highlighting serious concerns about the readiness of Nigerian institutions to administer digital examinations.
For some students, the experience has been traumatic. A candidate with a high UTME score of 350 recounted how his post-UTME examination was wrongly flagged by UNILAG’s artificial intelligence system for “cheating.” He described the situation as devastating, saying that months of preparation were wasted because of a machine error.
Another postgraduate student at UNILAG told BusinessDay how a system failure nearly ruined his examination. “My examination was between 9:00 am and 12 noon, but for more than an hour the questions refused to load. I had to run to the School of Postgraduate Studies to complain, but all they told me was to keep waiting. Out of frustration, I paid a boy at a business centre to help me fix it before I could write the examination around 11:00 am,” he said.
This is not an isolated story. Earlier in the year, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted that a poorly installed system patch disrupted the 2025 UTME in about 157 centres across Lagos and the South-East. Over 380,000 candidates were affected, with many scoring abnormally low due to technical failures. JAMB later apologised and asked candidates to retake the examinations. Sadly, the trauma of that episode led to tragedy when 19-year-old Tmilehin Faith reportedly took her own life after scoring 190—far below her expectations.
In August 2025, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) also admitted to technical errors in the grading of WASSCE results. WAEC had to shut down its portal temporarily to correct mistakes in core subjects. While apologising, the body acknowledged the “emotional distress” caused to thousands of students and their families.
Education experts say these repeated failures are damaging to the confidence and mental health of young Nigerians. “The glitches induce stress, anxiety, and psychological distress,” said Nubi Achebo, director of academic planning at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM). “They give room for uncertainty and frustration, which are dangerous for the growth of students.”
Teachers also warn that such setbacks can make students doubt their abilities. “When a child prepares well but cannot perform because of system errors, it can destroy their self-confidence,” said Christopher Nmeribe, a secondary school teacher.
The bigger question is Nigeria’s digital readiness. Despite millions of dollars spent on data centres and digital infrastructure, experts say the country still lacks the capacity to run smooth, nationwide online examinations. Galaxy Backbone, the government’s flagship data centre, reportedly operates below its 2.5MW capacity, far less than what is needed.
For now, students continue to suffer the consequences of these failures. Many of them are anxious, exhausted, and uncertain about their future. As Achebo warned, “people should understand that this issue is not just about technology, it is about the lives and mental health of our young people.” That means the government and other stakeholders involved must take their jobs more seriously.
There is a need to ensure that technology becomes a bridge to success, not a barrier to students’ dreams.
Leave feedback about this