OAU Mourns Student Who Committed Suicide for Failing Exams

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of Ajibola Ibitayo, a Part Two medical student in the Faculty of Dentistry, who reportedly took his own life after failing his examinations.

In a statement on Thursday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the examination results, released on Wednesday, required Ibitayo to repeat Part Two for a second consecutive year.

“The student, identified as Ajibola Ibitayo (Matriculation Number: DEN/2021/023), committed suicide after learning that the results of the last semester examinations… would require him to repeat Part Two for another academic year,” the statement read in part.

According to the university, Ibitayo, whose father is a medical doctor, allegedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simeon Bamire described the incident as deeply saddening and urged parents to teach young people that academic setbacks are temporary and should be seen as opportunities to realign toward future success.

He prayed for strength for the student’s family, faculty, and the entire university community to bear the loss.