The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has confirmed the tragic death of Ajibola Ibitayo, a part-two medical student from the Faculty of Dentistry. According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, Ibitayo allegedly took his own life after receiving his last semester examination results on Wednesday.
Olarewaju revealed that the outcome meant the student, with matriculation number DEN/2021/023, would have to repeat Part Two for a second consecutive year. The 2021 entrant had already been repeating the same level during the last academic session.
Reports indicate that the deceased, whose father is a medical doctor, injected himself at his parents’ residence in Ejigbo, Osun State. The incident has thrown the OAU community into deep mourning.
Reacting to the news, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, expressed sorrow over the loss and urged parents to teach their children resilience in the face of setbacks. He stressed that academic challenges, while painful, should not be seen as the end of life’s journey but as opportunities to redirect one’s path.
Bamire also encouraged students to embrace failure as a stepping stone to future success and greater achievements. He prayed for God’s comfort for Ibitayo’s family, the Faculty of Dentistry, the College of Health Sciences, and the entire OAU community.
This incident underscores the importance of mental health awareness in Nigerian universities, calling for stronger counseling support and student engagement to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
