The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has lamented the death of a 500-level student of the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Akeredolu Clinton Ayomide, calling on the Southwest (Zone D) and Ondo State Joint Campus Committee (JCC) to organise a mass action against the university over the incident on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

The student body also demanded the resignation or suspension of the Healthcare Director.

It further called for management of FUTA to properly and effectively equip the University’s health centre in the next 72 hours to avert further occurrence.

These demands were contained in a statement by NANS Vice President (External Affairs), Babatunde Afeez Akinteye.

Akinteye said: “The demise of our dear student came to us as a shock. Words cannot express how disheartening we are as a body whose sole objective is to see to the welfare of Nigerian students.

“It is rather unfortunate and sardonic because this irreplaceable loss, ugly event and sour occurrence was avertable and avoidable.

“We are perplexed and disturbed that an ugly scenario of this nature was not happening for the first time and the management of the institution (FUTA) alongside the health care unit are not seeing the need for an end to this disastrous passing on of our students.

“The loss of a final year student, in just a few days to election, is so disheartening, melancholic and unpalatable that words cannot express the gravity of the loss. This is a loss that could have been averted and as such it hurts more to the brim.”

The student leader lamented the negligence of the institution in handling the matter, saying the association could not stand aloof and watch an ugly event like this persist in institutions without putting in place measures that would put an end to such unfortunate occurrence.

He said: “Our hearts are cold at this hour as we grieve for the deceased student, it is no doubt a dark moment for us as Nigerian students.

“To our greatest dismay, having made thorough and proper close examination, we have come to the realisation that FUTA health care centre, a supposed teaching hospital, is nothing to write home about with poor facilities that cannot save lives or meet immediate demands and emergencies.

“It is also on record that as at when the deceased was rushed down to the school health centre there was power outage and students had to use flashlights to enable oxygen setups and injections.

“There is no backup power supply at the institution’s health care centre that’s supposed to run for 24 hours and seven days weekly. This is worrisome and only shows the negligence of the institution towards adequate healthcare.

“It is also on record that before the ugly incident that took the life of Clinton, the former Vice President of the union (FUTASU), who was in a critical condition was rushed down to the school clinic for emergency treatment and all that mattered to the Health Centre Director was school identity card, at a point that the paramount thing was to save a dying soul. This is inhumane act at its peak and must be frowned at in its totality.”

The NANS leader added that the mass action was imperative and suspension of the Director of the health centre, was non-negotiable. (The Guardian)

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