One Toluwase Jesutunmise, “a diligent and vibrant student” of Covenant University in Ogun state, has passed away.
The deceased, a 500-level Building Technology student, died after slumping during a football training session on campus.
The institution confirmed the tragic incident in a statement by its vice-chancellor, Professor Timothy Anake, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the incident happened on Monday, April 6, 2026. It added that the deceased student was involved in the football training session before taking time out of the game to rest after complaining of leg pain and exhaustion.
It added that moments later, his teammates noticed he was struggling to breathe and immediately rushed him to the university’s medical centre emergency unit, located opposite the playing field.
He was, however, said to have stopped breathing before arriving at the facility.
The statement partly read, “On Monday, April 6, 2026, the Covenant University community experienced the unfortunate loss of one of our precious students. Jesutunmise, a diligent and vibrant student, participated in a student football training session on campus.
“He stepped out of the game to rest after he was said to have complained of leg pains and being tired. In a short while, his football mates observed that he was gasping for breath, and they responded swiftly by taking him to the medical centre’s emergency unit, which was directly opposite the playing field. However, he had stopped breathing by the time he arrived at the facility.”
The vice-chancellor explained further that despite being brought in with no signs of life, medical personnel commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an automated external defibrillator, but all efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.
Anake also disclosed that Jesutunmise was subsequently certified clinically dead, with indications pointing to a prior undisclosed heart condition.
Anake also debunked claims that the deceased was not given oxygen, noting that there was no negligence on the part of the medical personnel and that all necessary equipment required for emergency response was available and utilised.
“We wish to confirm that there was no form of negligence in the response of the medical personnel or a shortage of any required equipment for the treatment.
“The management of the university, led by the vice-chancellor, was at the medical centre from the time of the unfortunate event until the parents arrived and remained with the family until he was laid to rest,” the statement added.
The institution expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the death as a significant loss to the university community and society at large
