This study investigated the psychological impact of atychiphobia (fear of failure) on learning among public secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria, using a descriptive survey research design. A total of 300 students from SS1 to SS3 were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from five public secondary schools in Education District IV. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising demographic details and an academic performance and engagement scale assessing self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement on a 4-point Likert scale. The instrument demonstrated acceptable reliability with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.70 and was validated by experts. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a moderate negative relationship between atychiphobia and academic performance (r = -0.45, p < 0.001), indicating that higher fear of failure correlates with lower academic performance. Regression analysis showed that atychiphobia significantly predicts students’ self-efficacy (R² = 0.21), motivation (R² = 0.19), and engagement (R² = 0.15), with all p-values below 0.05. The study concluded that atychiphobia (fear of failure) significantly affects students’ academic performance, self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement in public secondary schools in Lagos State. It recommends that schools should establish counselling and psychological intervention programmes to help students manage atychiphobia.