Promising OAU Medical Student Commits Suicide After Repeated Exam Failure

RYNI News | Blessing Isiuwa
14 August 2025

The serene atmosphere of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, was pierced by grief on Thursday following the shocking death of a young medical student whose dreams were abruptly extinguished.

Ajibola Ibitayo, a part-two student of the Faculty of Dentistry, was found lifeless at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State, after what authorities have described as a case of suicide. According to official sources, the 21-year-old injected himself following the release of semester examination results that indicated he would have to repeat his academic year — for the second consecutive time.

University spokesperson, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed the incident in a sombre statement, noting that Ibitayo, who had been repeating Part Two, reportedly took the drastic step after learning that his efforts had not yielded the results he had hoped for.

“This is a colossal loss, not just to his family but to the entire OAU community,” Olarewaju lamented. “He was a bright student from a respectable background. His father, a medical doctor, and his family are devastated beyond words.”

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, while addressing the tragedy, called for a cultural shift in how failure is perceived among young people. “Academic setbacks are not the end of life’s journey,” he stressed. “They can be redirections towards new opportunities and eventual success. We must teach resilience, self-worth, and the courage to face tomorrow, even after today’s disappointments.”

The Dentistry Students’ Association, through its president, Adebayo Idris, described Ajibola’s passing as “a painful reminder of the silent struggles” that many students endure. “This is not merely the loss of a classmate,” Idris said, “but the extinguishing of a bright mind whose potential will never be realised. It underscores the urgency of prioritising mental health just as much as physical well-being.”

Counsellors and mental health advocates have since urged students to speak out and seek help when overwhelmed, emphasising that no examination result should ever determine the worth of a life.

As OAU’s campus lowers its flags and its community gathers in hushed sorrow, Ajibola’s death sends a chilling message far beyond Ile-Ife — a plea for empathy, early intervention, and a reminder that behind every transcript lies a human soul, often fighting unseen battles.

For Ajibola Ibitayo, the pages of an unfinished story have closed far too soon, leaving behind a silence that speaks volumes.

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