A Nigerian student has reportedly been hospitalised after suffering a severe anxiety attack allegedly triggered by the outcome of his 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result, raising renewed concerns about the toll of academic pressure on students’ mental health.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media after the student’s sister, known on TikTok as @big_ellaa7, posted a poignant video showing her younger brother lying on a hospital bed, visibly overwhelmed and distressed.
“He Studied Like His Life Depended on It” — Sister Speaks Out
In the emotional clip, the sister described how her brother had returned home filled with optimism after writing the JAMB examination, convinced that he had performed well. The shock of receiving a disappointing result, however, shattered his confidence and triggered the anxiety attack.
“My brother after seeing his JAMB score. He had an anxiety attack. He was rushed to the hospital,” she wrote.
“He studied like his life depended on it.”
She expressed heartbreak over the situation, noting that her brother’s emotional breakdown was not merely about the exam result but also a reflection of how deeply invested he was in his academic future.
Mental Health in Crisis: Is Academic Pressure Going Too Far?
While the sister did not reveal his exact UTME score, she made it clear that the result was significantly below expectations, leading to a level of disappointment that took a toll on his physical and mental well-being.
“2025 JAMB did him dirty. Get well soon, my love. I no fit ask person wey de hospital wetin him score shaa… I just know it’s very bad for him to have that anxiety attack,” she added in a follow-up post.
Her comments also hinted at broader frustrations shared by many Nigerian students and parents regarding the transparency and consistency of JAMB scoring, suggesting that such outcomes are increasingly affecting students’ mental stability.
“I just hope this failure isn’t done intentionally because it’s messing up these children’s mental health,” she wrote.
Reactions: A Wake-Up Call for Education and Mental Health Systems
The video has since gone viral, drawing sympathy and sparking a conversation about the need for mental health awareness, emotional support, and academic reform within Nigeria’s educational system.
Many social media users echoed the sister’s concerns, calling on authorities to consider the psychological impact of the high-stakes nature of standardized testing like UTME on teenagers.
Mental health professionals have long warned that pressure from entrance exams—combined with social expectations and lack of institutional support—can result in anxiety, depression, or worse, if left unaddressed.
This incident highlights a deeper crisis facing many young Nigerians: the overwhelming weight of academic expectations in an environment where opportunities are scarce and the future uncertain.
Experts have urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and educational policymakers to create support systems that go beyond scores—by incorporating mental health counselling, feedback mechanisms, and transparent result appeal processes.
As the affected student recovers in hospital, his story stands as a powerful reminder that behind every result is a human being—a student with dreams, fears, and vulnerabilities.
While achieving good grades is important, the well-being of students must not be overlooked in the pursuit of academic success.
