UNILAG sensitises students to dangers of suicide

As part of effort aimed at preventing suicide among Nigerian undergraduates, the counseling centre at the Student Affairs Division of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) recently embarked on a campaign urging students not see suicide as the last resort.

When The Guardian visited the campus, some officials of the school were seen going from one hall to another urging the students never to attempt suicide but visit the institution’s counseling centre should they have any challenge.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated about 40 people commit suicide every minute all over the world.

An official of the university, who pleaded anonymity, noted that prior to this time, suicide was not as serious as this in Nigeria but because of the socioeconomic issues and other difficulties that people are going through, it has become a phenomenon that we are grappling with.

This, he explained, informed the university’s decision to organise a programme creating awareness that suicide is not the solution.

“We are also trying to tell them that when they have challenges they should come to the counseling unit so that they could be helped in addressing the issues instead of contemplating suicide.’

It would be recalled that about 42 Nigerians, including 11 students, committed suicide within the first and second quarters of this year

On May 13 2019, the body of Chukwuemeka Akachi, an undergraduate of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) was discovered by a passerby after he had successfully executed his suicide mission at an uncompleted building located along Sullivan Road, Nsukka. He was said to have slipped into coma after taking two bottles of the deadly insecticide, sniper.