The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of a Part Two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly took his own life after failing his examinations for the second time.
In a statement on Thursday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, said the student, with matriculation number DEN/2021/023, committed suicide after learning he would have to repeat Part Two for another academic year.
Olarewaju explained that the results of the last semester examinations were released on Wednesday, revealing that Ibitayo, who had already repeated the level once, failed again.
“The entire OAU community is in deep shock over this sad development. The student, identified as Ajibola Ibitayo, reportedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State, after confirming the results. He had been repeating Part Two during the last session,” Olarewaju said.
According to the statement, the deceased’s father is a medical doctor, and the tragic incident occurred shortly after the family became aware of the exam outcome.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Simeon Bamire, described the death as painful and avoidable. He urged parents and guardians to help their children understand that “temporary setbacks in the pursuit of success are part of life and not the end of it.”
Bamire appealed to students to see failure as “an opportunity to redirect their paths towards greater achievements” while praying for God to grant the family, faculty, and university community the strength to bear the loss.
