416
By Oscar Okhifo
Tragedy, it was for the family and friends of a 20-year-old final-year Computer Science student of Babcock University, identified as Joshua Lawson. He has reportedly taken hi life after he was suspended from the institution for examination malpractice.
The incident occurred at his family residence in Lagos on Wednesday, June 25, just weeks before he was scheduled to graduate from the university’s Ilisan-Remo campus in Ogun State.
According to university sources, Lawson was summoned before a disciplinary committee after he was allegedly caught red-handed engaging in malpractices during an examination. He was subsequently handed a one-year suspension, a decision that devastated him.
Though Lawson had not officially received the suspension letter, he was said to have become aware of the verdict and, unable to bear the shame and disappointment, allegedly committed suicide.
Confirming the development, the Director of Communication and Marketing at Babcock University, Dr. Joshua Suleiman, stated that the institution followed due process in handling the case.
“The school is aware of the tragic incident. The student appeared before the university’s disciplinary committee for examination malpractice and was found guilty. He was handed a one-year academic suspension. We only later heard that the student took his own life at home.”
Lawson’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and anger across social media, with many students and commentators questioning the rigidity of academic disciplinary policies and their psychological impact on students.
“How can someone be so close to the finish line, just a month from convocation, and everything is taken away? That’s not just punishment; that’s destruction,” one student posted online.
The tragedy has also reignited calls for Nigerian universities to reconsider how they handle disciplinary actions and to implement stronger mental health support systems for students facing academic or personal crises.
As of the time of this report, Babcock University is yet to issue a formal statement beyond confirming the student’s suspension and expressing condolences to the bereaved family.
Lawson’s death adds to a troubling trend of rising suicide cases among Nigerian youths, prompting urgent conversations about student welfare, institutional responsibility, and the need for comprehensive mental health interventions in the country’s tertiary education system.