500 Level FUTA student slumps, dies playing football

A 500 Level student of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Tunji Agboola, yesterday slumped and died while playing football in his rented apartment. The incident, according to sources, occurred in the morning at his off campus residence close to FUTA South gate on Àkure-Ilesa Road. The institution’s health centre had been shut for months owing to the strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union. Agboola was rushed to a private hospital close to the South gate. However, the doctor could do little owing to lack of basic oxygen apparatus to resuscitate him.
The victim was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure, where he was confirmed ‘Brought in
Dead’ (BID). It was not immediately clear if the late Tunji had any health challenge. His death almost precipitated a protest by his colleagues especially the Nigerian Association of Earth and Mineral Science Students (NAEMSS) who felt he would not have died if he had got help on time. President, of the association, Victor Awosiji, the Student Union Government (SUG) Vice President, Yewande Akinjewe, Ondo State Chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS0 Secretary General, Tolulope Duyilemi, and other union leaders had to intervene by visiting the Akure Area Command and the hospital with a call on government to shut it down for not having ‘minimal requirements’ to operate.

The SUG President, Adeyinka Olasehinde, described the incident as very saddening. He said the union would meet the management on the issue. According to him, it is not proper to have students in a school environment without a functioning health centre. Olasehinde said the remains of the late Tunji had been handed over to his elder brother who came around, for onward movement to Ado-Ekiti, their parents’ residence.

The institution confirmed Agboola’s death. Its Publice Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Adebanjo Adegbenro, said from available report, Agboola, a 500 Level Applied Geophysics student, slumped in the course of playing football and was rushed to a private hospital from where he was referred to the State General Hospital by the doctor who determined that his condition was grave.
He said: “Unfortunately he was confirmed dead on arrival at the state Hospital. Our prayers are with the family at this very difficult time. The university commiserates with his immediate family and friends and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear this painful loss “This is a time of sober reflection. As an institution, we will continue to review and strengthen existing structures in terms of health care delivery and other services that directly affect the well-being and welfare of members of the FUTA community particularly the students who remain our main focus.”
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