Tragedy After UTME: Experts Urge Students to Separate Self-Worth from Scores

The death of 19-year-old Timilehin Faith Opesusi in the Ikorodu area of Lagos has sparked widespread reactions, particularly within the mental health community after it was reported that she took her life following her performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Opesusi, who scored 190 on the examination, tragically ended her life before receiving news of her provisional admission to a tertiary institution, which was sent to her via email just 30 minutes after her death.

Mental health professionals have since called for urgent efforts to help students manage the intense pressure of examinations and urged students and parents to avoid equating academic performance with personal identity.

Reacting to the incident, Michael Jacob, founder of Emotion Compass Academy, warned that a student’s academic performance should never be seen as a reflection of their self-worth.

According to The Punch, Jacob emphasised the importance of helping students understand that examination results do not define their intelligence and value.

“To every student struggling right now under the weight of disappointment, please understand: your value is not defined by a number on a result slip. The UTME is only one doorway out of many. If that door closes, another will open—but you must still be here to walk through it,” Jacob advised.

Mental health psychologist Patricia Udosen also weighed in on the issue, describing the aftermath of not meeting expectations as potentially devastating for students. She urged parents to be more supportive and to listen without judgment.

“Listen to your child without judgment and validate their emotions. Focus on their effort and determination, not just results,” Udosen advised, underscoring the emotional toll that failure can take on students.

Udosen further highlighted the high pressure students face during examinations, encouraging them to seek support when necessary and to process their feelings in a constructive manner. Clinical psychologist Hammed Lateefat also weighed in, suggesting that students must view failure as a regular part of life rather than a permanent setback. She urged students not to allow a failure to define their mental health or sense of self.

“We fail in life, and they should not allow that to affect their mental health. Instead of dwelling on the failure, they should look into their lapses and never give up,” Lateefat said.

The tragic death of Opesusi has brought renewed attention to the mental health challenges faced by students under pressure during examination periods. Mental health professionals have called for schools, parents, and the government to work together to ensure that support systems are in place to help students navigate these challenges.

The emotional and mental well-being of students, experts say, must be prioritised alongside academic achievement to ensure that future tragedies like Opesusi’s death can be prevented.