University of Ibadan maths lecturer allegedly frustrated to death, failing to get PhD in 22 years
A lecturer in the Department of Mathematics, University of Ibadan has reportedly committed suicide.
He was said to have resulted to taking his own life after finding it difficult to finish a PhD programme in 22 years.
A media report said the don, simply identified as Mr. A.O Subair, set himself on fire Friday in his senior staff quarters located at Phillipson Road of the University.
He has been buried at Akinyele public cemetery according to Islamic rites.
He was survived by three children.
Silverbird TV reports that the late mathematician had recently resigned from the university without a justifiable reason but was yet to pack out of the staff quarters before he took his life.
It was also reported that the late university lecturer had separated from his family and had challenges progressing on his career.
Confirming the incident in a telephone chat, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Professor Deji Omole described the incident as pathetic and a major loss to the Union.
Omole said, “We were only informed of the burning flat while efforts to save him proved abortive.”
Omole urged members of the Union to confide in one another saying “isolation could deepen depression which may culminate in suicidal ideation.”
Although the last has not been heard of the unfortunate incident, feelers from Ibadan dismissed the claim that the fire incident that gulped Subair’s flat killed him.
One of the sources said there was no sign of burns on his body but suggested that he possibly poisoned himself due to frustrations by lecturers of the University of Ibadan making it difficult for him to successfully obtain his PhD after 22 years of serious efforts.
Among Nigerians who reacted to the alleged suicide by Subair there was one that said, “His death or suicide was a proof of frustrations that Nigerian students are subjected to by their lecturers, especially at the top level of academic advancement”.
