In a statement issued on Thursday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olarewaju, the student, with matriculation number DEN/2021/023, died by suicide after learning he would have to repeat Part Two of his programme for the second time.
Olarewaju explained that the results of the last semester examinations were released on Wednesday and indicated that Ibitayo would need to spend another academic year at the same level. The student had already been repeating Part Two during the last session.
According to reports, Ibitayo, the son of a medical doctor, allegedly injected himself at his parents’ residence
in Ejigbo, Osun State.“The entire OAU community has been thrown into mourning following the tragic loss of a promising young student from the Faculty of Dentistry,” the statement read in part.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, expressed deep sadness over the incident and urged parents, guardians, and young people to understand that temporary setbacks are part of life and should not be seen as the end of one’s journey.
Bamire further advised students to view failure as a stepping stone towards future success, noting that resilience and determination often lead to greater achievements.
He prayed for God’s comfort for the deceased’s parents, family, friends, colleagues in the Faculty of Dentistry, the College of Health Sciences, and the entire university community, asking that they be granted the strength to bear the loss.
