The campus of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is in deep mourning after the sudden and tragic death of a young dental student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly took his own life.
The incident, which allegedly followed his disappointment over recently released examination results, has stirred an outpouring of grief and urgent conversations about student mental health.
Eyewitness accounts and student reports indicate that the tragedy occurred on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, just hours after the university made public the examination results for the Faculty of Dentistry. Friends and coursemates describe Ajibola as a bright, ambitious, and generally cheerful individual, making the news of his death even more difficult to comprehend.
The President of the Dentistry Students’ Association, Adebayo Idris, confirmed the devastating development in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 13.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of one of our colleagues in the Faculty of Dentistry,” the statement began. “We have received the painful news that he took his own life shortly after the release of his examination result. This is not only the loss of a promising young mind but a painful reminder of the silent battles many students face.”
The association’s leadership extended heartfelt condolences to Ajibola’s family, friends, classmates, and everyone who knew him, noting that his absence would be deeply felt both academically and socially. “As an association, we are devastated. This is a wound that will take time to heal,” Idris added.
In a strong appeal, the Dentistry Students’ Association urged students to prioritize mental well-being just as much as their academic pursuits.
“Mental health is as important as physical health. No one should ever feel alone in their struggles,” the statement read. It also encouraged students experiencing distress or pressure to seek help from the university’s counselling services, medical professionals, or trusted friends and family members.
The incident has reignited conversations among students, lecturers, and alumni about the growing academic pressure on Nigerian undergraduates, the stigma attached to seeking mental health support, and the urgent need for institutions to strengthen counselling and emotional support systems.
Some students have openly shared that they often feel overwhelmed by expectations from family, society, and themselves — pressures that, if left unaddressed, can lead to dangerous mental and emotional strain.
On social media, tributes to Ajibola have poured in from classmates, friends, and even strangers, with many describing him as diligent, respectful, and kindhearted. Others have used the opportunity to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to call on universities to provide more accessible mental health programmes.
As the OAU community continues to grieve, many hope that Ajibola’s death will serve as a wake-up call — not just for the institution, but for the entire educational sector — to take student mental health as seriously as academic success. For now, the campus remains shrouded in sadness, united in the painful reality that a young life filled with promise has ended far too soon.