1st October, 2021
Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, staged a protest on Friday against the management of the institution over the death of Adeshina Aishat.
The students alleged that Aishat, a final year student of foreign language, died as a result of the negligence of the institution’s health workers.
One of the students who spoke to PM News said that Aishat was having complications with breathing but was not given the necessary attention until the matter got worse.
The student said: “She was later transferred to Seventh Day Adventist hospital where she eventually died.”
However, the Students’ Union of the institution has called on the management to investigate the matter.
A statement released by Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan (Tao), Public Relations Officer-elect, of Great Ife Students’ Union said:
“Adesina Aishat, a 400 level student at the Department of Foreign Languages, just joined the list of many students who have lost their lives due to “negligence” at the Health Centre of the University. It saddens our heart that a member of our Union has to be returned home as a corpse when her family expects her to be a graduate with prospects.
“We send our condolences to the family of the deceased. But while we mourn Aishat, we cannot lose sight of the circumstances that led to her death, especially the role of the University Health Center. Aishat’s death is not the first to happen due to negligence of duties by the workers at the Health Center. It is only one out of many.
“Enough is enough.
“We call on the University Management to investigate this death and punish all health workers who failed in performing their duties when Aishat needed attendance which they failed to give but only transferred her in her last moments to Seventh Day Hospital where she eventually died. Without a proper and quick investigation (one which must actively involve and be communicated to students) and punishment meted, the University Management will be putting the lives of students in danger. We cannot let our lives become toys. We will have to protest this, as we cannot afford to keep losing our lives like fowls.
“As we await the University’s reactions and actions to this sad occurrence, we urge all Union members to see this incident not as a loss to the family of Aishat, her class, department or faculty, but as a loss to all students of the University. We solicit your support as we demand justice to be done in memory of Aishat and many others like her. It was Aishat today, it could be anyone tomorrow. We cannot wait until another sad occurrence like this happens. Our lives matter!”