- Akeredolu, a 500 Level student of the school, was said to have slumped inside the hall of residence
- The deceased, who was on the verge of writing his final exam
Exasperated students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo state, on Friday, grounded academic activities in the institution.
The students paralysed activities after taking to the blocking the main entrance of the school to protest the death of their colleague, Ayomide Akeredolu, a final year student.
Akeredolu, a 500 Level student of the school, was said to have slumped inside the hall of residence.
The deceased, who was on the verge of writing his final exam, was immediately rushed to the institution’s health centre but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His demise infuriated the students who mobilised to block the front of their school on the Akure/Ilesha express road for several hours.
However, the demonstration forced commuters and motorists plying the highway to use alternative routes.
They claimed that Akeredolu death was not unconnected to the lack of basic amenities in the school’s health centre.
“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), due to the lack of basic amenities, he lost his life at the university clinic” Daily Trust quoted an eyewitness and student of the school as saying
The student, who spoke in confidence to the newspaper, said similar incident had happened at the clinic before the death of Akeredolu.
“We rushed him to the health centre around 8:30 pm, 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 is no backup power supply.
“Sequel to the incident, the health centre 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.”
But in a swift reaction, the institution’s management, refuted claims that the deceased died at the clinic.
The management authority, which condoled with the family of the deceased, said Akeredolu was brought in dead.
The management, in a statement released by its Spokesman, Adegbenro Adebanjo, said it was important to point out that the protest was not directly related to the death of the student.
Adebanjo however said the students met with the management of the institution and immediate steps were being taken to address the issues raised about the clinic.
“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 lacuna 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 satisfaction of the students.”
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