Students of the Ifetedo Campus of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) have staged a protest over the death of a 400-level Criminology and Security Studies student, Grace Osunlakin, accusing the institution of neglecting students’ welfare through poor healthcare services.
A video of the protest circulating on social media showed visibly emotional students expressing dissatisfaction with what they described as the poor state of medical facilities on the campus.
One of the protesting students alleged that despite the university collecting various fees from students, the campus clinic was not functioning, claiming there were no doctors or nurses available to attend to sick students.
The student further alleged that facilities the management claimed to have provided, including a hostel and clinic, were not operational, accusing the institution of failing to provide the necessary welfare services.
The protesters also decried what they described as worsening welfare conditions on the campus, alleging that students’ lives were being endangered.
They appealed to the university management to either improve students’ welfare or allow them to leave the campus if it could no longer guarantee their safety and well-being.
The students further claimed that the campus clinic was unattended when the deceased reportedly suffered a medical emergency, alleging that no medical personnel were available when she was taken there for treatment.
According to the protesters, Osunlakin’s health condition reportedly deteriorated on Wednesday evening after the university’s medical facility had allegedly closed for the day.
Reacting to the development, the university management, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and announced the commencement of an investigation into the incident.
The management said it was treating the matter with utmost seriousness and had launched a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
It also assured that any medical personnel or staff found to have acted negligently or failed in their professional responsibilities would face appropriate disciplinary action in line with the university’s regulations and relevant laws.
The university stated that the death of the student had generated concerns among students, parents, stakeholders and members of the public, reiterating its commitment to uncovering the facts surrounding the incident.
The institution appealed to students, parents and other stakeholders to remain calm, avoid speculation and allow the investigation to run its full course.
.NAN
