A dental student at Obafemi Awolowo University has died by suicide after the release of examination results, according to the university’s dental students’ association.
The Obafemi Awolowo University Dental Students’ Association (IFUDSA) confirmed the tragic news in a statement released by President Adebayo Idris, describing the loss as devastating for the entire faculty community.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of one of our colleagues in the Faculty of Dentistry.
We have received the painful news that he took his own life shortly after the release of examination results,” the association stated.
The tragedy has prompted renewed calls for mental health awareness among students.
IFUDSA emphasized that the incident serves as a stark reminder of the unseen struggles many students face daily.
The association has reached out to the student’s family, friends, and classmates, offering condolences while encouraging students to look out for one another and seek help when needed.
“Mental health is just as important as physical health, and no one should ever feel alone in their struggles,” the statement emphasized.
IFUDSA has pledged to work toward improving student welfare and mental health support within the faculty to prevent similar tragedies.
This marks another concerning incident in what appears to be a pattern at OAU. In 2021, Emmanuel, a 200-level Accounting student, died after consuming pesticide.
Two years earlier, Opeyemi Grace Dara from the Department of English and Literature also took her own life, though the university later clarified that her academic performance was not as poor as initially believed.
