The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has expressed worry over the rate of suicide cases in the country, especially among youths, saying efforts must be intensified to check the trend.
Ogundipe gave the advice during an interview on Sunday in Lagos.
He recalled that in the recent past, there had been reported cases of suicide carried out by some undergraduates in some universities in the country due to some personal reasons.
According to him, it is particularly sad that young Nigerians, especially undergraduates, are beginning to take to suicide as the only way out in surmounting life challenges.
“We must begin to address this ugly trend among our youths as quickly as possible before it gets out of hand.
“Against this backdrop therefore, we in the university of Lagos have found it appropriate to decentralise our Guidance and Counselling Unit.
“This is in an attempt to make the unit more effective, more accommodating and interactive.
“We have actually moved our counselling unit to other sections of the University, apart from being sited at the Students’ Affairs Department.
“We now have one at the university canhapel, another one at the mosque, one at the Faculty of Education, the other at the Distance Learning Institute (DLI) and the last one at the College of Medicine.
“This is done in a bid to ensure easy access for the students as well as for effective interaction and monitoring.
“If for instance, any student is going through any emotional crisis, it would be easily handled and necessary steps taken to reassure such student,” the vice chancellor said.
Ogundipe noted that the manner of handling pressure or challenges varied from one individual to another, adding that most persons might only need some one to talk to at some point in time.
He called on parents to always find time to interact with their children and wards, adding that this could go a long way to share in their fears and worries
