OAU student commits suicide for repeating class twice

• Let your children know that setback is not the end of life, VC tells parents

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

A 200-level student of Dentistry at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ajibola Ibitayo, has committed suicide for repeating a class twice.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Bamire, has enjoined parents and guardians to let their children know that temporary setbacks do not mean the end of life.

The incident threw the university community into mourning as Ibitayo, whose father was said to be a medical doctor, injected himself.

The Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday. He said the deceased with matriculation number DEN/2021/023 was a part-time student of the Faculty of Dentistry.

The university disclosed that the boy took his life after she discovered that the results of the last semester’s examinations, which were just released, would require him to repeat part two for another academic year. He had already been repeating part two during the last session.

Olarewaju explained that the information received by the university is that the boy injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State.

The Vice-Chancellor enjoined parents and guardians to instil in their children and wards the understanding that temporary setbacks in the pursuit of success are part of life and not the end of it.

He also urged students and young people to view failure as an opportunity to redirect their paths toward success and greater achievements.

Professor Bamire prayed that God Almighty would grant the parents, family, faculty, College of Health Sciences, and the university community the fortitude to bear the loss of the boy.