The death of Ayomide Akeredolu, a 500-level student at the Federal University of Technology, FUTA, in Akure, sparked protests in the school on Friday.
Akeredolu, a final year student who was planning to write his final exam, reportedly slumped and was immediately rushed to the institution’s health center, but gave up the ghost on arrival.
His death infuriated the students, who rallied for many hours in protest in front of their school on the Akure-Ilesha express road.
They claimed Akeredolu died as a result of a lack of basic utilities in the school’s health center.
However, the demonstration caused commuters and motorists using the motorway to take detours.
According to an eyewitness and student of the school who pleaded anonymity, “He (Akeredolu) slumped while in his hostel at Akindeko Hall of Residence and was rushed to the University Health Centre (a proposed university teaching hospital), but due to the lack of basic amenities, he lost his life at the university clinic.
“We rushed him to the health center around 8:30 p.m. When we got there, there was a power outage, and throughout the oxygen set-up, CPR, and injections they gave him, the light wasn’t restored; We had to use our flashlights; It was also hard to believe that there was no backup power supply.
“Sequel to the incident, the health center refused to attend to another student, a former FUTASU Vice President, who was in a critical condition and needed emergency attention, but because she wasn’t with her ID card, no one attended to her.”
However, the institution’s management, which expressed condolences to the deceased’s family, stated that Akeredolu was brought in dead.
In a statement issued by its spokesman, Adegbenro Adebanjo, the management stated that the protest was not directly related to the death of the student.
“He was brought in dead. Efforts to resuscitate him through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and oxygen therapy proved abortive. He was subsequently taken to the UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure, by the medical personnel on duty inside the university ambulance.”
“Understandably, his friends and colleagues are devastated by the sad development.” The management joins them in mourning at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with our students and the bereaved family.
“It is important to point out that the protest was not directly related to the death of the student.
“The representatives of the students, at a meeting with management called at the behest of the Vice Chancellor, pointed out some lacunae in the process of accessing services at the Health Centre. The management, in the course of the meeting, directed that immediate remedial measures be taken to address the lacuna and other issues raised by the students.
“The corrective measures will be reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are being implemented to the letter and the satisfaction of the students.”
