Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife, is reeling from the tragic death of a second-year dental student who reportedly took his own life following the release of examination results.
The university’s Dental Students’ Association (IFUDSA) confirmed the incident in an official statement, prompting widespread grief and renewed scrutiny of the mental health crisis facing students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“This loss is not just the departure of a promising young mind but a painful reminder of the silent battles many students face,” said IFUDSA President, Adebayo Idris. “Mental health is just as important as physical health, and no one should ever feel alone in their struggles.”
Social media has since been awash with emotional reactions. One user, Mojeed Akinwale Akingbolu, wrote, “Mental health is just as important as physical appearance health, and no one should ever feel alone in their struggles.” Another lamented, “But why? May God fight our silent battles.”
Though details about the student’s personal struggles remain undisclosed, the incident has resonated deeply with students, parents and educators who recognise the intense academic and emotional pressure that accompanies competitive courses such as dentistry and medicine.
This heartbreaking event is part of a broader mental health crisis in Nigeria’s higher institutions. A 2023 study conducted among medical students at the University of Benin found that 32 percent exhibited symptoms of depression. The report cited emotional distress, financial hardship and unhealthy lifestyle patterns as significant contributors.
Globally, the picture is equally troubling. A comprehensive meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that over 30 percent of medical students worldwide experience depression, with many reluctant to seek help due to stigma or fear of academic consequences.
Despite growing awareness, mental health services across Nigerian universities remain poorly developed. Many institutions lack trained counsellors, structured support systems, or confidential platforms where students can safely seek help. Even in universities where such services exist, stigma remains a major barrier.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 25 and 30 percent of Nigerians live with some form of mental illness. Yet fewer than 10 percent receive professional care, due largely to weak infrastructure, a shortage of qualified personnel, and low public awareness. Mental health currently receives less than three percent of Nigeria’s overall health budget.
In stark contrast, universities in the United Kingdom have significantly increased investment in mental health services. Over the past five years, average spending has risen by 73 percent, with some institutions recording even higher jumps. Greenwich University and the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, for example, increased their mental health budgets by nearly 600 percent and 400 percent respectively. The University of the West of England now allocates close to £5 million annually for mental health support. These investments reflect rising post-pandemic demand and growing concerns over limited NHS access, prompting calls for more government funding and specialised student wellbeing grants.
In Nigeria, a few institutions are beginning to respond. The University of Ilorin’s Tertiary Institution Mental Health (TIM) Programme offers peer support, resilience workshops, and mental health awareness campaigns. A study published in the Nigerian Medical Journal credited the initiative with improving mental health literacy and coping mechanisms among students, suggesting it could serve as a model for replication across the country.
However, such programmes remain isolated and underfunded. Mental health experts warn that without a unified national framework backed by the National Universities Commission (NUC), these efforts will fall short of addressing the scale of the crisis.
The death of a student by suicide is not only a personal tragedy, it is a sobering indictment of an education system that often prioritises academic achievement over emotional well-being. The response must move beyond grief and statements. It requires meaningful investment in professional counselling services, increased funding for mental health education, and sustained efforts to combat stigma.
As the OAU community grieves, the question remains: will this tragedy prompt real reform, or fade into silence like so many before it? Until student mental health becomes a true national priority—beyond policy documents and institutional lip service—universities may continue to award degrees alongside despair.
Experts continue to call for urgent reform. Professor Akinsolure Adesanmi, a leading psychiatrist from the Department of Mental Health at OAU, recently stressed the importance of cultivating a growth mindset as a tool for combating mental health struggles. Speaking during the annual lecture of the School of Basic Medical Sciences at the Federal University of Technology, Akure in June 2025, he highlighted the role of institutional and societal support in building student resilience.
Similarly, psychiatrist Dr Anthony Olashore has linked rising youth suicide to intense societal pressures and inadequate mental health education. “Among youths, there is a pressure to succeed from parents and the environment. These days, there seems to be a huge emphasis on academic qualification, which places immense pressure on young people, sometimes pushing them to extreme actions,” he said. Dr Olashore advocates for early mental health education and strong parental involvement as key strategies to curb depression and suicidal tendencies among Nigerian youths.
The tragedy at OAU must therefore serve as more than a moment of mourning. It should be a catalyst for a long-overdue reckoning with the mental health challenges plaguing Nigerian universities.
