The Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of a final-year student of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Oluwole Oluwaseun.
The circumstances surrounding the student’s death are now the subject of a police investigation after he was found in an emergency situation at an apartment in the Damico area of Ooni Layout, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday.
Although reports have described the incident as an alleged suicide, the university has not conclusively stated the cause of death, saying relevant information and items recovered from the scene have been handed over to the police for investigation.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution received information about the emergency at about 1:30pm on Tuesday, September 15.
The university said its Quick Response and Security Team immediately moved to the location, while the Nigeria Police Force was contacted.
Officers from the ‘A’ Division, Moore, Ile-Ife, subsequently joined the university’s security personnel at the scene.
Oluwaseun was later taken to the university’s Health Centre, where a medical doctor certified him dead.
The university said it was “deeply concerned” about the circumstances surrounding the death and had provided investigators with relevant information and items recovered from the location.
“The police have commenced investigation into the circumstances of the incident,” the university stated.
The death has triggered grief among students and colleagues in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, particularly as Oluwaseun was said to be at the final stage of his undergraduate programme.
The Association of Materials Science and Engineering Students, OAU, described his death as a painful loss to the department.
In a condolence message to members, the association said students had been looking forward to completing their academic journey together with Oluwaseun.
The association expressed sympathy with his family, friends and loved ones, urging members to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers during the difficult period.
Amid growing concern within the university community, the management urged students and staff to remain calm and refrain from spreading unverified information about the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
The university said the appropriate authorities were handling the matter and that further information would be communicated through official channels when necessary.
The management also appealed to students experiencing severe emotional distress, relationship difficulties, financial pressures or other personal challenges to seek help from trusted persons and appropriate university support structures.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, expressed concern for the welfare of students and other members of the university community who may have been affected by the tragedy.
He stressed that no student should feel compelled to confront overwhelming difficulties alone.
The university also said relevant student-affairs authorities had been notified for appropriate follow-up, particularly regarding the welfare and support of students affected by the incident.
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