Omoyele Sowore, a prominent human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, has demanded the resignation and legal action against Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). His demand comes in response to the tragic death of Timilehin Faith Opesusi, a 19-year-old Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate who died by suicide.
Reports indicate that Opesusi ended her life after scoring 190 in the UTME. Heartbreakingly, she received a provisional admission notice via email just 30 minutes after her death.
Sowore has strongly criticized JAMB’s management of the 2025 UTME, describing it as marked by severe negligence. He dismissed Professor Oloyede’s public apology and emotional display during a press briefing as mere “crocodile tears,” arguing that such gestures fail to address the seriousness of the situation.
In his statement, Sowore insisted that Professor Oloyede should not only step down but also be prosecuted for manslaughter, citing the harmful impact of JAMB’s actions. He further proposed a complete overhaul of the examination board, suggesting that JAMB has become obsolete and should be dismantled.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has backed Sowore’s stance, similarly demanding the resignation of Professor Oloyede and holding JAMB accountable for Opesusi’s death. NANS also emphasized the need for the grieving family to receive full support, including financial compensation and psychological assistance.
Amid the rising backlash, JAMB has admitted that technical issues affected the 2025 UTME, impacting a large number of candidates. The board has announced plans to reschedule exams for around 379,997 students in Lagos and five southeastern states. Professor Oloyede has expressed deep regret over the incident, accepting responsibility for the errors and apologizing for the distress caused to students and their families.
As this controversy continues, there is growing pressure on educational authorities to introduce reforms that will enhance the reliability of examination processes and protect student welfare nationwide.