Parents, Be Alert! NAPTAN Reacts To Spate Of Suicide Among Nigerian Students
The increase in rate of suicide amongst Nigerians, especially students is now getting serious attention from both concerned citizens of the country and the authorities. In view of this, the National Parents, Teachers Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN is calling on parents and guardians to be alert and vigilant.
Recently, a student committed suicide for failing to score high grades in the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Another student, a 300 level medical student of the Niger Delta University, NDU, also took his life yesterday in Bayelsa after failing his MBBS examination which was reported to have recorded mass failure – It was gathered that out of the 169 students in his class, 50 failed.
Reports have it that the young man identified as Uzakah Timi Ebiweni died after plunging into Amassoma River in Bayelsa State.
Timi allegedly started giving hints via his WhatsApp stories by initially posting a candle light and then changing to the picture of a candle with its light blown off.
Reacting to these sad news, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the 2nd Deputy President of NAPTAN, told NAN in Lagos that parents must pay more attention to their children to avert suicide tendencies. He added that though suicidal act was condemnable, the cause should be addressed.
“Honestly, it is very sad, very disappointing and yes it is very condemnable. But condemning it alone will not bring the solution; we as parents must be alert to stop this menace.
Parents must be alert always to identify changes or any suicide tendencies in their children.“Children, especially undergraduates, need constant monitoring in order to avert any danger.
Nowadays, many of us parents do not have time for our children anymore, we only worry about their upkeep but neglect the social life.
When we talk of time, it is divided into two; normal time and quality time — and what our children need is quality time.”
Speaking on the case of the undergraduate who committed suicide, the NAPTAN Deputy President said the incident might not be unconnected with the economic situation in the country, adding that the situation of the country may lead to suicide, ‘one cannot rule out depression’.
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”It is not right for anybody to commit suicide for whatsoever reason but for a depressed person, they will not think that it is not right. A depressed person only acts on impulse.”
Speaking on students committing suicide because they failed their exams, Ogunbanjo said failure was part of life and there was no success without failure.
Parental care is also very important for our children and quality time with them to check their class work, homework and assignment, particularly at the primary and secondary school level.