Student Death Sparks Outrage In OAU
In Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, a medical student, Adewole Oreoluwa Emmanuel, died on April 23 after collapsing during an oral exam, throwing the campus into mourning.
The Education Rights Campaign blamed the university management for negligence. It said the incident involved a Part 4 student of the College of Health Sciences.
The case has drawn attention across the academic community.
The group said the student complained of chest pain while waiting for his exam and could not get urgent care. Fellow students reportedly tried to help, but there was no proper medical equipment.
The group claimed that “none was available,” raising concerns about emergency readiness. It added that an ambulance later arrived but lacked basic support tools.
According to the group, the response system failed badly as the ambulance came without oxygen and a stretcher. It argued that “the deceased would have been saved if he had been promptly attended to with the right equipment.”
The group also criticised the university leadership under Simeon Bamire, saying the situation showed poor planning and neglect despite student fees.
The group further accused the Students’ Union of not doing enough, saying its reaction treated the death as routine.
It said “the union leadership failed to point fingers at the real killer,” linking the tragedy to wider problems on campus.
These include transport issues, hostel concerns, and rising costs.
The group called for better health facilities and a student congress to address ongoing challenges.
