Alex Onyia, CEO of the education technology company Educare, has strongly condemned Nigerian political leaders for what he described as gross negligence and silence in the face of a JAMB examination crisis that could affect the futures of thousands of students. In a thread posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Onyia accused government officials of ignoring students’ plights following technical glitches in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“The Minister of Education, commissioners of education and governors of the affected states didn’t find it worthy to address the students after a major glitch with JAMB that could jeopardize these students’ destinies,” Onyia wrote. “Timilehin took her life because of this, but of course it’s not worthy of their time,” he added, referring to the tragic death of Timilehin Faith Opesusi, who reportedly died by suicide over her JAMB score.
Onyia described the response from political leaders as deeply disappointing. “They will rather jump on frivolous things for clout chasing,” he said. “This explains the quality of leaders we have.” According to him, the silence of top education stakeholders at both federal and state levels sends a dangerous message about the value placed on young lives and education in Nigeria.
The Educare boss, known for his vocal stance on education reform, further lamented the unequal digital access that continues to disadvantage students, particularly in underserved rural communities. “One of the major reasons students fail JAMB, especially in remote villages, is because they have never touched a computer until on the exam date,” Onyia said.
“They experience technology shock on the exam day,” he continued. “These are students taught parts of computer on a blackboard.” He explained that many candidates sit for the computer-based UTME with no real prior experience using digital devices, resulting in anxiety, confusion, and underperformance during the test.
As the federal government pushes for full computer-based testing across major exams—including WAEC and NECO—Onyia warned that Nigeria is dangerously unprepared for this transition in many rural communities. “WAEC may be transitioning to CBT in 2026, and that will be a big challenge if we don’t close the digital divide amongst students especially in remote places,” he said.
Onyia’s comments come on the heels of widespread frustration following the disclosure that over 1.5 million UTME candidates scored below the 200 benchmark. A recent report by TechCabal revealed that 157 JAMB CBT centers experienced server glitches during the exams, affecting thousands of students. While JAMB has ordered a resit for affected candidates, Onyia believes the damage runs deeper.
“This is more than a glitch,” an education analyst in Osogbo, Osun State told The Nigeria Education News. “It’s a reflection of systemic failure—where we expect students who have never seen a computer to compete with those attending elite private schools with ICT labs.” Onyia’s remarks add to growing calls for urgent investments in public school infrastructure and digital training.
Education experts have pointed out that despite years of policy promises, few state governments have made meaningful investments to equip rural schools with computers or internet access. “Digital literacy in many public schools remains theoretical,” said Dr. Janet Ibezim, a lecturer in Educational Technology. “Students are taught what a keyboard looks like with chalk.”
Onyia insisted that addressing Nigeria’s education crisis requires more than technology—it demands political will and empathy. “You can’t govern a country where students are dying over test scores and you remain silent,” he posted. “Leadership must be measured by the protection and elevation of the most vulnerable.”
In his concluding post, Onyia called on fellow Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable, especially in matters concerning education. “We must demand better,” he urged. “We can’t continue to normalize a system where poor students are set up to fail and no one takes responsibility. This is how we lose a generation.”
As JAMB prepares for rescheduled exams and WAEC plans its transition to CBT in 2026, education stakeholders—including parents, civil society, and tech innovators like Onyia—are demanding a national conversation not just about results, but about access, equity, and the humanity of every Nigerian child.
