A final-year student of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Oluwole Oluwaseun has died.
In a press release dated 16 September, the university described the incident as suicide and said the police had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident comes months after the university mourned two students in separate incidents in April, renewing concerns about student welfare and the support available to those facing personal and emotional difficulties.
Against this backdrop, the university urged students experiencing emotional distress, financial pressures, relationship difficulties and other personal challenges to seek help promptly.
University hands over recovered items to Police
According to the statement signed by the university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution received information at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 September, concerning an emergency involving Oluwaseun at an apartment in the Damico Area, Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife.
The university said its Quick Response and Security (QRS) Team immediately proceeded to the location after receiving the information.
Also, the Nigeria Police Force was contacted, and officers from the ‘A’ Division, Moore, Ile-Ife, joined the university’s security personnel at the scene.
The student was subsequently taken to the university’s Health Centre, where a medical doctor certified him dead.
The university said it had handed relevant information and items recovered from the scene to the police for further investigation.
It added that the police had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Previous student deaths raise fresh welfare concerns
Oluwaseun’s death follows reports of other student deaths at the university, including two incidents reported by DevReporting in April.
The publication reported that OAU was thrown into mourning following the death of Aderonke Oke, a 400-level student of Entrepreneurship.
Her death occurred barely seven days after a 400-level medical student of the university also died during a clinical examination.
Although Oke’s death was widely rumoured to be suicide, her cause of death had not been officially confirmed at the time. Her student association also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information.
The April incidents renewed concerns about student welfare and the need for universities to strengthen systems for identifying and responding to students experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties.
DevReporting had also reported that several OAU students had died by suicide over the years, with academic difficulties identified as a factor in some of the reported cases.
The reports highlighted calls for improved counselling services, confidential handling of academic results and early intervention for students experiencing difficulties.
University urges students to seek help
Following the latest incident, OAU’s Vice Chancellor, Adebayo Bamire, a professor, expressed condolences to the family, friends, classmates and colleagues of the deceased.
He also expressed concern for students and other members of the university community who might be emotionally affected by the tragedy.
Mr Bamire urged members of the university community to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information or speculation about the circumstances surrounding the death while the investigation continues.
The university encouraged students experiencing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressures or other personal challenges to seek help promptly from trusted persons and appropriate university support structures.
The Vice Chancellor said, “no student should feel that he or she has to confront overwhelming difficulties alone.”
The university said it had notified the appropriate student affairs authorities for necessary follow-up, particularly concerning the welfare and support of students affected by the incident.
It added that management remained committed to the welfare of staff and students and assured the university community that the appropriate authorities were handling the matter.