Students protest alleged lack of basic medical facilities, while university insists victim was never taken to campus clinic

Tension gripped the University of Osun (UNIOSUN) on Friday after the death of Grace Osunlakin, a 400-level student, sparked outrage over claims of inadequate healthcare services at the Ifetedo campus.

Angry students staged protests, insisting the tragedy could have been avoided if the university’s medical facilities were properly equipped. Demonstrators accused management of collecting health-related fees without providing functional services, describing the campus clinic as ineffective and understaffed.

In protest videos circulating online, students alleged the absence of doctors, nurses, and essential equipment. One protester accused the institution of “extortion,” saying students were left without care despite paying fees meant to cover medical services.

Osunlakin, a criminology and security studies student, reportedly suffered a medical emergency on Wednesday. Student leaders claimed she fainted and urgently needed oxygen, which they said was unavailable at the campus health centre.

Oguntola Helen, the students’ union welfare director, alleged that the lack of oxygen was fatal. She described the campus clinic as ill-equipped, claiming it could not adequately serve a student population of over 2,000.

“We lost her because there was no oxygen to stabilise her,” she said, adding that even basic medications were often unavailable on campus.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also condemned the incident, describing it as a case of negligence. NANS president Akinteye Azeez said it was unacceptable for students to pay for healthcare services that are not effectively delivered.

“Healthcare is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” he said, calling for a thorough investigation, immediate improvements to campus medical services, and temporary closure of the Ifetedo campus until adequate facilities are in place.

However, UNIOSUN management rejected claims that Osunlakin was denied treatment at its medical centre. In a statement, spokesperson Ademola Adesoji said the student was never brought to the university clinic on the day of the incident.

According to the university, Osunlakin had earlier attended her project defence and returned to her off-campus residence without showing signs of illness. Later that evening, she reportedly complained of stomach pain after returning from a religious gathering.

Her condition worsened at home, prompting efforts to get medical help. The university said movement was hindered by a local Oro ritual, which restricted nighttime travel. Despite this, she was eventually transported by motorcycle to a community health centre in Ikija.

By the time she arrived, she had lost consciousness and was later confirmed dead by medical personnel. University officials maintained that she was not taken to the campus health facility at any point during the emergency.

The institution also noted that Osunlakin had a history of asthma, documented since her first year, and said staff remained in contact with those involved throughout the incident.

The conflicting accounts have intensified calls for accountability and raised broader concerns about the state of healthcare services available to students at the university.