In a tragic turn of events, a third-year student known as Ajoke, enrolled at Havarde College of Science, Business, and Management Studies in Ogun State, has reportedly taken her own life. The distressing incident unfolds against a backdrop of allegations surrounding the institution’s failure to meet the accreditation standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Ajoke, a Basic Medical Science student at the college, is said to have ingested insecticide on Monday evening while on her way to her boyfriend’s residence. The heartbreaking decision is believed to be linked to the college’s purported inability to secure accreditation for its nursing courses, a circumstance that profoundly affected the deceased.
Concerns about the college’s accreditation status were previously highlighted in a report titled “Inside Ogun private polytechnic running unaccredited law, nursing, pharmacy programmes.” This exposé shed light on the institution’s enrollment of students in programs such as Law, Nursing, and Pharmacy without the necessary accreditation.
Students at the college expressed confusion about the institution’s academic standing, with some unsure whether they were attending a polytechnic, a university, or a hybrid of both.
Sources close to Ajoke revealed that her mental state had been deteriorating for months due to the uncertified status of her nursing program. The revelation of her pregnancy further intensified her distress as she grappled with the realization that her years of study might not result in a recognized qualification. Allegedly, Ajoke confided in her mother, expressing anguish over the significant financial investment her family had made in her education.
Tragically, Ajoke’s desperation led her to procure insecticide, ostensibly to combat mosquitoes in her room. Subsequently, she consumed the toxic substance, resulting in her untimely demise.
In response to the incident, authorities from the Ogun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee, took action by sealing off the nursing department of the institution. The closure comes following the revelation that the college had been offering nursing programs without NMCN accreditation for approximately six years.
Inquiries into the tragic event prompted Ismail Oyetunji PhD, the provost of Havarde College, to assert that the circumstances leading to Ajoke’s demise transpired outside the college premises. He clarified that the deceased’s parents had recently retrieved her belongings from the institution after learning of her pregnancy. Despite speculation linking Ajoke’s suicide to the nursing program’s accreditation woes, Oyetunji PhD maintained that the student’s decision was solely influenced by her pregnancy.
As investigations continue, this distressing incident underscores the broader ramifications of educational institutions operating without proper accreditation, emphasizing the need for stringent regulatory oversight to safeguard students’ well-being and academic pursuits.
