Gbenro Adesina
The students of the Federal University of Technology, (FUTA), Akure, Ondo State, on Tuesday August 3, 2021, protested against the death of Daniel Akinyele, a 200 level student of Software Engineering.
It was gathered that the late student was involved in an accident along Oyemekun Road Akure with his friends and he was rushed to a private hospital, where he was stabilised and referred to FUTA health health centre.
On getting to the school, the school security refused to open the gate for the students, who were bringing the victim, to access better medical care at the school clinic.
The students stated that they did not understand why the security men would not open the gate for them knowing fully well that they had an emergency situation at hand, with referral letter from the private hospital.
The students alleged that the insensitivity of the school security men is alarming adding that they do not discharge their responsibility with human face.
The students also condemned the institution’s management for the failure to provide an ambulance to take the student to another hospital for treatment saying, “The school authority said that there is no fuel in any of the four school’s ambulances ,
The students have grounded movements in the school by closing all the entrance gates.
While calling on the Federal government, particularly, the supervising ministries, they noted that they would not halt to protest until the institution’s Vice Chancellor addresses them.
The representatives that were sent by the management was booed away.
Speaking on the incident, National Vice President of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olaseinde Adeyinka Williams said it was unthinkable that the security men would not allow our colleague in a critical situation to be brought to school to receive medical attention.
He said further that it was unimaginable for the management to tell them that there was no fuel in school’s ambulance when they demanded for it to take the late student to another hospital.
He said that if the management staff could have fuel in their vehicles all the times, why would there be no fuel in any of the four ambulances for emergency adding, “This shows that the welfare of the students is not a priority to the school management.
Reacting, the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Abiodun Fuwape expressed deep sadness over the incident.
Fuwape, in a statement, commiserated with the family, friends and students of the deceased, stressing that the University is particularly saddened by the circumstances leading to his death.
