Nursing Student Commits Suicide Over School's Failed Accreditation
According to sources, Ajoke had been grappling with depression for over four months due to the uncertified status of the nursing department. The situation worsened after she discovered she was pregnant and feared she wouldn't receive a valid certificate for her four years of study.
A tragic incident has shaken the community of Havarde College of Science, Business, and Management Studies in Ogun State, Nigeria. A 300-level nursing student, identified as Ajoke, reportedly took her own life after the institution allegedly failed to meet accreditation requirements set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
Ajoke's distress over the college's failure to secure NMCN accreditation for its nursing courses led her to consume insecticide on Monday evening, resulting in her collapse on the way to her boyfriend's house. According to sources, Ajoke had been grappling with depression for over four months due to the uncertified status of the nursing department. The situation worsened after she discovered she was pregnant and feared she wouldn't receive a valid certificate for her four years of study.
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Students expressed confusion over the school's academic identity, admitting that they couldn't discern whether they were enrolled in a polytechnic, university, or a combination of both.
Following Ajoke's tragic death, an enforcement team from the Ogun State Ministry of Health, accompanied by members of the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee, sealed the nursing department of the college for operating without NMCN accreditation. The government emphasized the valuelessness of a nursing degree obtained from unaccredited institutions, stating that graduates would be unable to obtain a valid license to practice.
The provost of Havarde College, Dr. Ismail Oyetunji, maintained that the student's suicide was unrelated to the accreditation issue, attributing it solely to her pregnancy. However, preliminary findings from the state Ministry of Health suggest otherwise, indicating Ajoke's prolonged depression due to the uncertified status of the nursing program.
The tragic event has sparked discussions about the importance of accreditation in ensuring the quality and legitimacy of educational institutions, particularly in professional fields like nursing. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Ajoke's death while expressing condolences to her family and loved ones.