Nick Imudia, the former CEO of Nigerian e-commerce giant, Konga, and current head of solar energy firm D.light, has left all Nigerians in shock. On the night of June 25, 2024, he allegedly jumped from the balcony of his Lekki apartment in Lagos, ending his life abruptly. But why would a man of such means, who once steered Konga from near collapse to profitability, choose this tragic path?
Without sounding exaggerative in this context, the manner of his death has resonated the question of whether suicide is a norm or a taboo. The foregoing nagging question cannot be said to be a misnomer as suicide has now become a life phenomenon that need to be unravel, especially now that the rate of its occurrence is fast becoming rife to the consternation of many. It has become a consternation to many as it runs counter to African tradition and scriptural injunctions.
Some of the questions being asked by many that truly see the act as objectionable are, “Why the high incidence of suicide in today’s society?”, “Why were highly placed people who invariably did well during their earthly sojourn decided to commit suicide?” Another question that is begging for answer is “Why born-again Christians are no longer seeing suicide as an act of disobedience to the word of God?” As if it is a competition, some youths and teenagers have literarily being caught in the web of suicide.
The reason for the foregoing questions cannot be farfetched as Imudia’s wealth was no secret. His success story was woven into the fabric of Nigeria’s business landscape. From launching strategic verticals like Konga Logistics, KongaPay, and Konga Food, to revitalizing the brand, he was hailed as a visionary. Yet, beneath the surface, the weight of executive responsibilities can be crushing. The relentless pursuit of profit, the pressure to innovate, and the scrutiny of shareholders can take a toll on mental well-being.
Imudia’s journey was one of highs and lows. He lived and worked across continents, gaining recognition for operational excellence. But perhaps the same drive that fueled his achievements also haunted him. The burden of maintaining success, coupled with personal struggles, can lead anyone to the edge. As a people, we must recognize that even the most accomplished leaders can grapple with inner demons.
Imudia’s tragic end serves as a stark reminder. We must look beyond the glossy headlines and recognize the fragility of human minds. As a people, we have a duty to shed light on life challenges faced by executives, entrepreneurs, and celebrities alike. Let us remember Nick Imudia was not just as a man of means, but as a soul who battled silently.
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to opine that in the corridors of power, where wealth and influence collide, let empathy be our guiding star. Perhaps then, we can prevent more heartbreaking losses like Imudia’s.
Nick Imudia’s untimely demise is a tragedy that highlights the importance of mental health awareness, even among successful individuals. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider seeking professional help or reaching out to a trusted friend or family member.
A perusal of the past issues of most newspapers would reveal various headlines that were cast in the following mould: “Man Commits Suicide After Failed Eye Treatment In Lagos”; “Family Man Commits Suicide In Lagos Hotel”; “52-year-old man drinks poison, commits suicide in Lagos”; “Corps member Commits Suicide Over Girlfriend”; “Suicide bomber kills self, 5 others at wedding venue in Borno”, “Final Year UNIBEN Law Student Commits Suicide”; FCMB opens up on bank manager’s suicide over N350m bad debt and some other eye-catching headlines.
As the foregoing questions are still begging for answers, it is expedient to recall that in 2023 that a video went viral on social media, where a Lagos socialite known as Mrs. Salome parked her SUV on the ever-busy Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State and made an apparent attempt to jump into the lagoon. Fortunately, instant intervention from passers-by prevented her attempted suicide. However, not everyone is so fortunate. This was also the case for Chukwuemeka Akachi, a fourth-year student at the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), who took his own life in 2019, leaving behind a suicide note on his Facebook wall.
No doubt, the foregoing instances have revealed the state of poignancy which suicide has assumed in our today’s society. Ostensibly buttressing the foregoing headlines are some statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that reveal the fact that approximately 700,000 people commit suicide annually. This number excludes the even larger number of people who attempt suicide yearly. According to the organization, there are at least 20 unsuccessful attempts for every completed suicide. In Nigeria, the age-standardized suicide rate was 6.9 per 100,000 population in 2019, across both sexes, however, male suicide rates were higher at 10.1 per 100,000 population. Meanwhile, Lesotho has the highest suicide rate in Africa at 87.5 per 100,000 population in 2019.
Imudia’s journey was one of highs and lows. He lived and worked across continents, gaining recognition for operational excellence. But perhaps the same drive that fueled his achievements also haunted him. The burden of maintaining success, coupled with personal struggles, can lead anyone to the edge. As journalists, we must recognize that even the most accomplished leaders can grapple with inner demons.
In fact, Imudia’s tragic end serves as a stark reminder. We must look beyond the glossy headlines and recognize the fragility of human minds. As a people, we have a duty to shed light life challenges faced by executives, entrepreneurs, and celebrities alike. Let us remember Nick Imudia not just as a man of means, but as a soul who battled silently.
In the corridors of power, where wealth and influence collide, let empathy be our guiding star. Perhaps then, we can prevent more heartbreaking losses like Imudia’s.
At the moment, it appears that most people do not see the act of suicide as an anathema or a taboo anymore the way our ancestors saw it. Many now see it as a form of civilization. No thanks to western culture that has literarily warped the sense of value of millions of people for African culture.
As if this taboo called suicide is not enough, it appears that people no more have a second thought, particularly on members of family they would leave behind before they chose the gory option of committing suicide.
in fact, the rate at which people now terminate their lives, which is invariably a devil’s alternative, is pervasive and gruesome enough to make Nigerians rise up to say “No to suicide”. In fact the taboo has become so pervasive that it can literarily be said to be so thick that it can be sliced with a knife.
To my view, it is high time government, at the federal level, through the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Health jointly embark on an awareness campaign that can be driven with the message that “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem”. The message is self-explanatory as anyone that killed his or herself will permanently not come back to life any more as a result of a temporary problem he or she would have bravely faced and solved if he or she was patient and faithful enough to remain alive.
In the same vein, clergymen that are wont to regularly deliver messages to their followers in mosque and churches should begin to lay emphasis on messages that focus on the grave implications of suicide.
Finally, people in family units should be made to understand the arrays of symptom of depression to enable them put any of their relative suffering from it under watch. According to Mayo clinic, a popular medical website, depression may occur only one time during the life time of a man where he is bound to experience multiple episodes of symptoms. The symptoms cut across feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness, angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters, loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports and sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much.
In addition to the foregoing, it stated that tiredness and lack of energy over small tasks can also be considered to be a symptom. Others include, changes in appetite, which often reduce appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people. It continued by adding other symptoms that include anxiety, agitation or restlessness and slowed thinking, speaking or body movements and feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren’t your responsibility and trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things. Also, frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide and unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches were also identified as symptoms of depression which is the major cause of suicide.
There is no denying the fact that some readers of this piece may have been thinking of what is laughably called “African Remote Control” as the cause of the increasing rate of suicide in Nigeria. However, this piece is not looking at this issue from a superstitious perspective.
Finally, I am through this piece, urging the government at all levels, Non-Government Organizations in the country, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and Sociologists to put heads together and find a way of nipping this mushrooming problem in the bud.
Again, it is expedient to ask, “What could have pushed Nick Imudia, e-Commerce titan to jump from the balcony to suicidal death?
