The UNIILORIN student who committed suicide few days ago, reportedly took to the decision to end his life due to drug addiction according to the school’s management.
Kunle Akogun, the school’s Director of Corporate Affairs, said investigation into the incident revealed that the UNIILORIN student committed suicide as a result of drug abuse and not because he failed his project as widely believed.
Kunle told NAN that the student must have unwisely adopted drugs to address the prolonged depression he suffered as a result of personal challenges he could not bear, as he reportedly complained that it was his nagging younger sister that was sponsoring his education.
The university spokesman who further disclosed that the deceased had a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.72 and failed results in seven different courses, said late Adigun had lamented that it would be too difficult for him to approach the same younger female sibling for the needed finances to complete his extended stay on campus.
According to him, the performance accounted for late Adigun’s non-graduation in the last academic session and he was neither considered academically outstanding nor on the verge of completing any research project.
“Some close friends of the late Mr. Adigun revealed that the obviously depressed student had unsuccessfully attempted suicide thrice, having publicly expressed profound regrets on many occasions,” he said.
Kunle also disclosed that the deceased never completed the series of enabling experiments that would have given him the data needed for his research, and a senior academic staff of the deceased’s Department of Agronomy got wind of Adigun’s psychological problem through their interactions.
“He took his life while he was expected to complete registration formalities, a prerequisite for his retake of all the courses he had earlier failed.”
Akogun said: “his alleged drug addiction, courtesy of peer group influence, frustrated all the rehabilitative assistances that were rendered to him to the awareness, admiration and appreciation of his family members.”
The University’s spokesperson also said that measures taken by the university management to soothe the nerves of the deceased, included a four-week intensive rehabilitation at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, (UITH).
“Other assistance includes the facilitation of hostel accommodation for him on campus through the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Gbadebo Olaoye, and a soft loan granted him.
“While the university commiserate with the late Mr. Adigun’s family over the unfortunate incident, it appeals to parents, relations and guardians to be up and doing in their responsibilities to their children and wards,” he said.
