For thousands of young Nigerians, national examinations are supposed to be the gateway to their dreams. But in the last eight months, both JAMB’s UTME and WAEC’s WASSCE — two of the country’s most important exams — have been rocked by shocking failures that left students anxious, families drained, and futures uncertain.

From server glitches that skewed UTME scores to WAEC exams written by torchlight in the dead of night, the chaos has exposed the heavy human cost of systemic failures in education.

Tragically, some paid with their lives.

One of them was 19-year-old Timilehin Opesusi, a bright student from Ikorodu, Lagos. After checking her UTME result online and seeing a score that was far below her performance level, despair consumed her. Hours later, she ingested poison. Her admission offer arrived in her inbox just 30 minutes after her passing — a cruel twist that deepened her family’s heartbreak.

Her father’s grief turned to anger. “I hold JAMB responsible,” he said, lamenting that no official reached out to the family even after the board admitted a technical glitch had affected nearly 380,000 candidates.

Timilehin’s story is a stark reminder that exam failures are not just “technical issues” — they have real, devastating consequences.

Across the country, students like Ada and Emeka also faced similar ordeals: waiting weeks in uncertainty, writing exams in inhumane conditions, or receiving results that did not reflect their true performance. Many were left battling sleepless nights, depression, and the crushing fear that their futures had been stolen.

Experts warn the fallout goes beyond individual cases.

Mental health toll: Students report panic attacks, anxiety, and loss of motivation.

Academic disengagement: Many begin to doubt whether effort really pays off.

Economic stress: Parents who borrow to pay exam fees face repeating the same expenses.

Institutional distrust: Teachers, schools, and universities are left grappling with credibility issues.

Both JAMB and WAEC blamed “technical glitches,” but their late apologies and poor communication only fueled public outrage. Social media trended with hashtags, lawyers threatened lawsuits, and families demanded accountability.

But at the heart of it all are the students — young people who trusted the system to be fair. When that trust is broken, the damage is not just academic, but emotional, financial, and generational.

If Nigeria’s education system is to rebuild credibility, reforms must go beyond apologies. Independent audits, stronger oversight, transparent procurement, and mental health support for students must become priorities. Otherwise, the nation risks losing not just certificates, but the potential of an entire generation.

Timilehin’s death is a grim reminder: exam errors are never just glitches. They can shatter lives.