UNIOSUN students protest colleague’s death, university denies alleged negligence

Students of the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) staged a protest on Friday, June 26, 2026, following the death of a 400-level student, Grace Osunlakin, amid allegations of inadequate healthcare facilities at the institution’s Ifetedo campus.

The protesting students claimed Osunlakin, a student of Criminology and Security Studies, could have survived if the university’s health centre had been properly equipped to handle her medical emergency.

In videos from the protest, students accused the university management of neglecting healthcare services despite collecting medical fees from students.

“You claimed you built a hostel and clinic for us, but none of them is functioning. There are no nurses or doctors. We paid school fees and everything, but you’re just extorting us. Let us go if you can’t take care of us,” one of the students said.

Students alleged that Osunlakin suffered a medical emergency and collapsed on Wednesday.

Another video showed the Students’ Union Welfare Director, Oguntola Helen, alleging that the deceased required oxygen, which was unavailable at the campus health facility.

“All she needed was oxygen, but the school medical facility didn’t have it. We lost Grace just because there was no oxygen to stabilise her,” Helen said, adding that the campus clinic lacked adequate drugs and medical equipment to cater to more than 2,000 students.

However, UNIOSUN management rejected allegations that the student was denied treatment at its medical facility.

Reacting via a statement, the university’s spokesperson, Ademola Adesoji, said Osunlakin was never taken to the university health centre on the day of the incident.

Adesoji said the student had successfully completed her project defence earlier in the day and interacted with her supervisor and colleagues before returning to her off-campus residence without showing any signs of illness.

Adesoji added that Osunlakin had been diagnosed with asthma since her 100-level, with her medical history documented at the university health centre.

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He explained that, based on the account of her housemate, Durosinmi Mariam, Osunlakin returned from a Christian fellowship later that evening, complained of stomach pain and subsequently collapsed after going to the toilet.

The UNIOSUN spokesperson said efforts were made to rush her to a medical facility, but transportation was hindered by an unannounced Oro ritual in Ifetedo, which restricted movement at night.

He said despite the challenge, the student was transported on a motorcycle to the Community Health Centre in Ikija, Ifetedo, where she was confirmed dead after arriving unconscious.

Adesoji said Osunlakin’s project supervisor, Oyeyipo Eyitayo, and the Acting Head of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Olawale Gbadeyan, later arrived at the facility, where the matron on duty confirmed her death in the presence of her friends.

Adesoji added that the lecturers subsequently took her remains to a specialist hospital in Ondo, where doctors also confirmed that she was dead on arrival.

The UNIOSUN spokesman maintained that university officials remained in contact with those involved throughout the incident and reiterated that Osunlakin was never brought to the University Medical Centre on the day of her death.