The management of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) has constituted a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a 400-level Criminology and Security Studies student, Osunlakin Grace, while announcing major reforms to healthcare services across its campuses.
The resolutions were reached during a meeting between the university management, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Adeboye, and the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D.
The meeting focused on the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and other welfare concerns affecting students.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the NANS Southwest Coordinator, Adeyemo Josiah, the association emphasized that the welfare, safety, and well-being of students across the Southwest remain its top priority.
Josiah said NANS would continue to engage university authorities through constructive dialogue but would not hesitate to speak out whenever students’ welfare was neglected.
Reacting to the incident, Professor Adeboye expressed deep sadness over the death of Osunlakin Grace, describing it as a painful loss to the university community.
As part of measures aimed at improving healthcare delivery, the Vice-Chancellor announced that the university would establish an additional health centre at the Ifetedo Campus, where the deceased was a student.
He added that healthcare facilities across all UNIOSUN campuses would also be strengthened.
Adeboye further disclosed that all medical centres within the university would now operate on a 24-hour basis to ensure students have uninterrupted access to quality healthcare services.
According to the management, she complained of stomach pain after returning to her off-campus residence and was later taken to the Community Health Centre in Ikija, Ifetedo, where she reportedly lost consciousness before being confirmed dead.
The university also said transportation was hampered by an unannounced Oro ritual restricting movement within the community.
The university however, denied allegations of negligence, maintaining that preliminary findings showed the deceased was never taken to the institution’s medical centre on the night of the incident.
The university also confirmed the constitution of a committee to review the circumstances surrounding the student’s death, with the findings expected to guide further actions aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
