Protest Erupts at FUTA Over Student’s Sudden Death, Health Centre Concerns

Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, have taken to the streets in protest following the sudden death of their 500-level colleague, Ayomide Akeredolu, allegedly due to inadequate care at the university’s health care facility.

The protest resulted in traffic disruptions on the Akure/Ilesa highway as students expressed their grievances.

According to reports, Ayomide Akeredolu collapsed in his hostel and was promptly taken to the university’s health centre by his peers around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

However, allegations emerged that he received insufficient care and that the health centre lacked power supply during the medical intervention.

Students voiced their concerns about the quality of services provided by the university’s health centre, citing other instances where students faced difficulties accessing timely and appropriate care.

A student who spoke with the media stated that the protest was a peaceful demonstration aimed at drawing attention to the need for urgent improvements in the university’s health care centre.

The student disclosed that the health centre had also declined to attend to another student who required emergency treatment due to not having her identity card with her at the time.

In response to the incident, FUTA’s management expressed condolences over the student’s passing, clarifying that the victim was brought to the health facility already deceased. The Director of Corporate Communication, Adegbenro Adebanjo, released a statement explaining that medical personnel’s efforts to revive Ayomide Akeredolu through cardiopulmonary resuscitation and oxygen therapy were unsuccessful.

The statement also clarified that the students’ protest was not directly linked to the student’s death but rather stemmed from perceived concerns about the accessibility and quality of services at the health centre.

Acknowledging the students’ grievances, the university’s management promptly engaged in discussions with student representatives to address the identified shortcomings in the health centre’s service delivery.

Management assured students that immediate measures would be taken to rectify the situation and improve service quality at the health centre. Adebanjo emphasized that these corrective actions would be consistently reviewed to ensure their proper implementation and effectiveness in satisfying students’ expectations.

As the university community mourns the loss of Ayomide Akeredolu, the protest serves as a reminder of the importance of accessible and quality healthcare services within academic institutions. The incident highlights the need for continuous efforts to enhance medical facilities and procedures to ensure the well-being of students and staff members alike.