By Adedeji Odulesi
It was in May 2025, JAMB had released results and candidates from Lagos and South East states performed poorly.
Despite public outcry, a key person in the ministry of education defended the outcome as a reflection of their true capacities under strict examination conditions.
It was during this tense period that Alex Onyia, founder and CEO of Educare, publicly raised concerns about the UTME results, citing data and reports from schools whose students scored far below expectations despite strong past performance.
He argued there was a technical glitch in JAMB’s system rather than genuine academic failure.
Rather than use kinetic means to resolve perceived injustice, Onyia used subtle diplomacy. He petitioned governors and education officials in the South‑East and Lagos, urging an audit and transparent review before the rescheduled exam concluded.
Consequently, JAMB invited him to join a review panel examining the 2025 UTME process, indicating that his involvement was significant in pushing for scrutiny of how the results were generated.
JAMB eventually acknowledged technical errors in the examination system that affected scores at many centres in Lagos and the South‑East and ordered a resit for affected candidates (about 379,997 candidates) starting mid-May 2025 for affected candidates.
Significant improvements were recorded for many candidates in terms of scores above the 200 benchmark.
I was a direct beneficiary of the non-kinetic activism of Alex Onyia. My daughter who had previously scored 179, later scored 299 which gave her straight admission for her chosen course of study.
Can you imagine the level of education apathy this would have generated in the affected states if it had gone unchallenged?
A 19-year-old candidate, Faith (Timilehin) Opesusi, in Ikorodu, Lagos, reportedly took poison after seeing her 2025 UTME score, which she believed was much lower than expected.
She had scored about 190 and was deeply disappointed because she had done better the previous year.
Very sadly, reports say that a provisional admission notification arrived about 30 minutes after her death.
Alex Onyia went ahead to organize the well publicized and successful South East Maths Olympiad where three students: Egejurum Onyedikachi, Onwubiko Chimdiebube and Don-Anele Munachimso emerged as champions. They won cash prizes in millions together with their teachers. Many corporate organizations were partners.
The students have now been invited to compete on a global stage at the International STEM Olympiad Grand Finale happening in Rome from July 2nd – 8th this year.
He is currently organizing a South-East Educators Conference to happen in May in Enugu.
What we need in Nigeria right now are many Alex Onyia who can use non-kinetic means to achieve regional, national and global excellence.
A working, prosperous and egalitarian Nigeria is possible, just a step at a time.