The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of a Part Two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly took his own life after failing his examinations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed that Ibitayo, with matriculation number DEN/2021/023, was a student in the Faculty of Dentistry. He allegedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State, on Wednesday, shortly after the release of the semester’s examination results.
According to Olarewaju, the results showed that Ibitayo would have to repeat Part Two for the second consecutive year, a setback that reportedly left him devastated.
“The entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University has been thrown into deep sorrow by this loss,” the statement read. “He had already been repeating Part Two during the last session.”
The deceased, whose father is a medical doctor, was said to have been battling with the emotional toll of his academic struggles before the incident occurred.
Reacting to the tragedy, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appealed to parents, guardians, and students to understand that academic setbacks are temporary challenges, not the end of life. He urged young people to see failure as an opportunity to redirect their efforts toward future success.
“We must instill in our youths the resilience to handle life’s challenges. God Almighty will grant the family, friends, Faculty, College of Health Sciences, and the University community the fortitude to bear this painful loss,” Bamire said.
The incident has sparked conversations within the university community on the importance of mental health support for students facing academic pressures.
