A third-year student identified only as Ajoke, enrolled at the Havarde College of Science, Business and Management Studies in Ogun State, has reportedly ended her life. This unfortunate incident comes in the wake of allegations that the institution failed to meet the accreditation standards set forth by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
According to sources within the college, Ajoke tragically ingested insecticide on Monday evening while en route to her boyfriend’s residence. The distressing decision is believed to have been prompted by the college’s purported inability to secure accreditation for its nursing courses, a circumstance that deeply affected the deceased, who was studying Basic Medical Science at the institution.
Concerns over the college’s accreditation status had previously been highlighted in a report titled “Inside Ogun private polytechnic running unaccredited law, nursing, pharmacy programmes.” This investigative piece shed light on the institution’s enrollment of students in programs such as Law, Nursing, and Pharmacy, despite lacking the necessary accreditation.
Consequently, students voiced confusion regarding the nature of the institution’s academic standing, with some expressing uncertainty about 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 several months due to the uncertified status of her nursing program. The revelation of her pregnancy further exacerbated her distress, as it dawned on her that her years of study might not culminate in a recognized qualification. Allegedly, Ajoke confided in her mother, expressing her 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.
Following this devastating incident, authorities from the Ogun State Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee, took action by sealing off the nursing department of the institution. The closure comes in response to the revelation that the college had been offering nursing programs without accreditation from the NMCN for approximately six years.
In response to inquiries regarding the tragic event, Ismail Oyetunji PhD, the provost of Havarde College, asserted 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 accreditation woes of the nursing program, Oyetunji PhD, maintained that the student’s decision was solely influenced by her pregnancy.
As investigations into this distressing incident continue, the broader ramifications of educational institutions operating without proper accreditation underscore the need for stringent regulatory oversight to safeguard students’ well-being and academic pursuits.
