OAU Confirms Death of Medical Student in Suspected Suicide After Exam Setback

Ile-Ife, Osun State — The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) community has been thrown into mourning following the tragic 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 issued on Thursday, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed that Ibitayo (Matriculation Number: DEN/2021/023) allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday, shortly after the release of results that would require him to repeat Part Two for a second consecutive year.

“The student, whose father is a medical doctor, reportedly administered a lethal injection to himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State,” the statement revealed.

Olarewaju explained that the late Ibitayo had already been repeating the academic session prior to the latest results. The development, he said, had deeply shaken both the Faculty of Dentistry and the wider university community.

Reacting to the incident, OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, expressed profound sadness and urged parents and guardians to encourage resilience in their children, stressing that academic setbacks should be viewed as temporary challenges rather than life-ending events.

“Failure is not the end, but an opportunity to re-strategise for greater achievements,” Bamire stated, calling on students to seek support when faced with difficulties.

He prayed for divine comfort for Ibitayo’s family, colleagues, and the entire university community as they come to terms with the loss.

By Adeola Olaniya | August 14, 2025