The Nation Newspaper

Tag: postgraduate students

  • Last moments of drown students

    Last moments of drown students

    •Family members, friends pay them tributes

    THE University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Tuesday spoke on the death of two of its postgraduate students on Sunday at Elegushi Beach, saying they were not on a school assignment.

    Funmi Odusina, 24, and Adesola Ogunmefun, 27, were swept away by heavy tide on Sunday during the birthday celebration of a friend, simply identified as Bolu.

    Deputy Registrar (Information) Mr Toyin Adebule said the institution knew nothing about the party, adding: “They are postgraduate students. They were not on our assignment. They were there on their own. What can we do? We were not aware that they went there. Please leave the UNILAG out of this. We can only commiserate with the families. It is a coroner case and the police should handle this.

    “If it happened in our lagoon now, we would have been involved. But when students are out of the institution, they are not under our watch. The Dean, Students Affairs (DSA) and Dean of Postgraduate Studies would contact the families on our behalf,” Adebule said.

    Family members and friends yesterday took to social media to relive their last moments with the deceased.

    Odusina was brought out of the water dead by local divers; Ogunmefun died after being rescued. Bolu Akinyokun, who survived, was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

    The Nation learnt that the families are insisting on autopsy on the bodies, which are still at the Lagos Island General Hospital mortuary.

    According to Funmi’s older sister, Bukola Odusina, their family is devastated by the incident.

    On his Facebook wall, Gbenga Odusina said his sister was not a swimmer, stating: “Sadly, I saw these two on Sunday afternoon…I even joked with Shola about her makeup against Funmi’s own. She just came back from church and had to hook up with my sister for the party…Wished I restrained them from going to meet their death. Their friendship baffles me even in death. They had the same hairstyle and died the same day. At the mortuary, they weren’t too far apart too. My sister laid there dead even as my other sisters cried to her to please wake up…

    “It felt like a deep sleep and her feet were cold with water still running out of her nostrils. Sadly, she doesn’t swim and I would have bet she wasn’t anywhere near the ocean until I saw this picture.

    “I respect life more now and would make the best of every opportunity while still here. I wonder what we keep malice for; hold grudge against someone and never get another opportunity to say something to someone or forgive them. Life is short! Rest in peace Shola Ogunmefun and Funmi. Get well Bolu too!”

    Gbenga, the first family member to comment on the issue on Monday went on: “Happy birthday to my dad as much I would have loved to celebrate his 65th birthday, death snatched away his baby daughter; my sister Funmi, a few hours before. I have never experienced death this close. I still saw her in the afternoon (Sunday) making up. I even asked her, ‘Funmi you’re really dressed like a big madam today.’ She cleaned her room so well; maybe she knew she was going to meet her creator a few hours ago.

    “I saw her lifeless body at the mortuary. But I never really queried how God does His things and I continue to give thanks to Him for all. Rest in peace dear sister!”

    A close friend to Ogunmefun, Samson Tobore Chritos, who took a picture with her in church that Sunday recalled the peck she gave him.

    He said: “It was just two days ago (on Sunday) that we were both together laughing, playing, taking selfies at church and you gave me a kiss on my right cheek, only to find out the next day that you’ve departed this world. I never knew that was a goodbye kiss and that was the last time I was going to see you.

    “It’s sad how a lot could happen within 24 hours. Like Morenike Olusanya will say ‘Life is too short. Please learn to appreciate the people in your life all the time. Be at peace with them, help them, show them love, compliment them, treat them well, forgive them. Nobody knows when nor what will happen’. “Rest in peace dear. You will forever remain in our hearts. You will forever be a part of our family. We will always love and remember you Adesola Olubola Ogunmefun.”

    Another of their friend Mayowa Oyebanji, said Ogunmefun had promised to attend his wedding.

    “R.I.P. Adesola Olubola Ogunmefun and Phummie Toe’dunni Odusina So I lost two of you in a day! I still can’t believe you are gone Sola…No!

    “Sola, you promised to be at my wedding as Iya oko the last time I came to your house. Memories won’t let me be…been reading our chats, stalking your instagram and trying your phone number maybe you will pick.

    “Continue to rest in heaven my teflon nihga till we meet to part no more. No goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart,” said Oyebanji.

    The police have begun investigation into the matter. The parents were at the Ilasan police station, Lekki yesterday afternoon.

    [news_box style=”1″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”UNILAG” count=”2″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Family, friends pay tributes to drowned postgraduate students

    Family, friends pay tributes to drowned postgraduate students

    Family members and friends of two postgraduate students who drowned at Egushi Beach in Lagos Tuesday took to social media to relive their last moments with the deceased.

    The duo, Funmi Odusina, 24, and Adesola Ogunmefun, 27, were swept away by heavy tides on Sunday during the birthday celebration of their friend identified as Bolu.

    Odusina was said to have been recovered dead by local divers, Ogunmefun it was gathered, died later, while Bolu who survived the incident was discharged from the hospital Tuesday.

    It was gathered that Funmi whose father’s birthday according to her elder brother Gbenga Odusina was on June 6, had boycotted a family function that Sunday to attend Bolu’s beach party.

    The Nation learnt that the families were set to conduct autopsy on their bodies which are still at the Lagos Island General Hospital mortuary.

    According to Funmi’s older sister, Bukola Odunsina, their family was devasted and their parents speechless.

    She urged that safety measures be put in place at the various beaches to avoid recurrent avoidable deaths.

    Similarly, Gbenga Odusina on his Facebook wall stated that the deceased was not a swimmer: he said: “Sadly, I saw these two on Sunday afternoon…I even joked with Shola about her makeup against Funmi’s own. She just came back from church and had to hook up with my sister for the party…Wished I restrained them from going to meet their death.

    “Their friendship baffles me even in death. They had the same hairstyle and died the same day. At the mortuary, they weren’t too far apart too. My sister laid there dead even as my other sisters cried to her to please wake up…

    “It felt like a deep sleep and her feet were cold with water still running out of her nostrils. Sadly, she doesn’t swim and I would have bet she wasn’t anywhere near the ocean until I saw this pix.

    “I respect life more now and would make the best of every opportunity while still here. I wonder what we keep the malice for, hold grudge against someone or never get another opportunity to say something to someone or forgive them. Life is short! Rest in peace Shola Ogunmefun and Funmi. Get well Bolu too!”

    Gbenga who was the first family member to comment on the issue on Monday wrote: “Happy birthday to my dad as much I would have loved to celebrate his 65th birthday, death snatched away his baby daughter; my sister Funmi, a few hours before. I have never experienced death this close.

    “I still saw her in the afternoon (Sunday) making up. I even asked her, ‘Funmi you’re really dressed like a big madam today.’

    “She cleaned her room so well; maybe she knew she was going to meet her creator a few hours ago.

    “I saw her lifeless body at the mortuary and all I could do wonder is how? But I never really queried how God does his things and I continue to give thanks to Him for all. Rest in peace dear sister!”

    A close friend to Ogunmefun, Samson Tobore Chritos who snapped a picture with her same Sunday in church recalled the peck she had given him on Sunday.

    He said: “It was just two days ago (on Sunday) that we were both together laughing, playing, taking selfies at church and you gave me a kiss on my right cheek, only to find out the next day that you’ve departed this world. I never knew that was a goodbye kiss and that was the last time I was going to see you.

    “It’s sad how a lot could happen within 24 hours. Like Morenike Olusanya will say ‘Life is too short. Please learn to appreciate the people in your life all the time. Be at peace with them, help them, show them love, compliment them, treat them well, forgive them. Nobody knows when nor what will happen’. “Rest in peace dear. You will forever remain in our hearts. You will forever be a part of our family. We will always love and remember you Adesola Olubola Ogunmefun.”

    Another of their friend, Mayowa Oyebanji who was still in shock over their demise said Ogunmefun had promised to attend his wedding.

    “R.I.P. Adesola Olubola Ogunmefun and Phummie Toe’dunni Odusina So I lost two of you in a day! I still can’t believe you are gone Sola…No!

    “Sola, you promised to be at my wedding as Iya oko the last time I came to your house. Memories won’t let me be…been reading our chats, stalking your instagram and trying your phone number maybe you will pick.

    “Continue to rest in heaven my teflon nihga till we meet to path no more. No goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart,” said Oyebanji.

    Meanwhile, it was learnt that the police have commenced investigation into the matter as the parents of the deceased were at the Ilasan police station, Lekki Tuesday afternoon.

  • Two UNILAG postgraduate students ‘drown’ in Elegushi beach

    Two UNILAG postgraduate students ‘drown’ in Elegushi beach

    Two postgraduate students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have allegedly drowned at the Elegushi Beach in Lagos.

    According to their friend, Ginika Okolo, who took to social media to mourn them, Funmi 24, and Shola, 27, were swept away by high tide on Sunday.

    The duo, who graduated from Covenant University were about completing their Master in International Law and Diplomacy at the UNILAG.

    Okolo blamed the absence of life guards and other safety measures for their death.

    She said: “Some of us have been awake and have cried our hearts out. I shut the day because of the death of these two. Oh life, what a waste!!!

    “Our tears have turned to anger because their lives were carelessly taken away by Elegushi heavy tide. Is there not a rescue team? Don’t people pay to enter the beach? Funmi, 24 and Shola, 27, had bright future.

    “Graduated in International Relations from Covenant University (2007-2011) and on the verge of completing their Masters from UNILAG in International Law and Diplomacy. This is so sad but we must bring awareness because their lives are not worthless to carelessly die like this.

    “If you went to Covenant University, Bells Secondary School, Home Science Secondary School, University of Lagos and you know their families, loved ones or you have loved ones who have been victims, you need to join these campaigns.

    “We need wave alarm system, emergency medical unit, patrol unit, good rescue team in all Nigerian beaches.

    “Funmi and Shola were wonderful young girls who were taken away carelessly. R.I.P my loves you will always remain in the sands of time.”

    Police spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent (SP), confirmed the tragic incident.

    She said the victims’ relatives reported the case at Elegushi Police Station yesterday after they went to the hospital to claim the bodies but were disallowed unless there was a police report.

  • UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    UNILAG shuts postgraduate students’ hostels

    RESIDENTS of Henry Carr Hall at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) were on Monday barred from entering their hostel.

    Electricity was cut off around 11am and water supply stopped at 4pm. The hall has three blocks of rooms and houses Masters and Doctorate degree students.

    The students were served with a quit notice on January 12, effective from January 14. When the notice was served, many of the students had not returned from holidays. The hall executives met with the hostel officers and the exit date was extended to end of the month.

    But when a new notice was served, the date had changed.

    The notice reads: “Following the memorandum received from the Dean of Students Affairs (a photo copy is hereby attached) today concerning the notice of evacuation from the Hall of Residence, we, members of the Hall Management Committee (HMC), wish to formally appeal to you and all the students to please obey the directive of the Dean. You will assist us to be instrumental to its obedience because it has to be obeyed immediately. The directive has been given since Monday, January 11, 2016. Administratively, we expect everyone to have evacuated the Hall latest on Monday, January 18, 2016.”

    The statement infuriated the students whose one-year payment will elapse in March.

    The students were asked to evacuate their rooms because the school will be hosting some ECOWAS students.

    The students expressed anger, saying they could not imagine why the authority acted in such manner.

    They later met with some university officials, including hall executives and hostel officers.

    A student, who did not want to be named, said the executives were still trying to come to an agreement that would favour everyone.

    “The students were told to vacate the hostel but the session is not over. Some of us are not through with our exams and some of us come from long distances. We want the school authority to allow us stay till January ending. I believe they were in a tight corner yesterday because of the ECOWAS students’ arrival. We would be having a congress tonight (Tuesday) to discuss our options”, he said.

    A female student, who is yet to begin her exams, wondered how she is going to cope.

    “Where do I start looking for accommodation now when my exams are close by and how do I combine searching for accommodation and reading for exams? I don’t really know what to do,” she said.

  • 40 postgraduate students matriculate

    The Redeemer’s University (RUN) has admitted no fewer than 40 students into the School of Postgraduate Studies. The freshers matriculated on Wednesday last week at the school auditorium in Ede, Osun State.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Debo Adeyewa, said the event was a giant step in the realisation of the institution’s vision to widen the frontier of knowledge.

    The VC said adequate provisions had been made for materials for quality research.

    Prof Adeyewa said the mission of the university is to create, preserve and disseminate quality knowledge, saying the school also aims to be the best institution for research. He urged the students to be role models to their undergraduate counterparts, advising them to embrace the university’s culture of excellence.

    Officials at the event included the Registrar, Mrs Bolatito Oloketuyi; Dean, College of Post-graduate Studies, Prof E. Happi; Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Prof. E. O. Bamiro; Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof E.O. Akinnawo; Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof T. A. Bamiduro and the school chaplain, Pastor Gbenga Akosile, among others.