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How UNILAG final year student drowned in Lagos beach

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Contrary to online claims that a University of Lagos student drowned while attempting a backflip, it was gathered that the deceased, Damilola Balogun, a 400-level student of the Department of Education, was swept away by ocean currents at a beach in Ibeju-Lekki.

Balogun, who was supposed to begin his teaching practice on Monday, was also the president-elect of the Nigerian Universities Education Students Association, UNILAG chapter.

Our correspondent learnt that Balogun had gone to the beach in the Idado community with other executive members for a handover get-together.

Findings revealed that he was in the company of the outgoing executive members, the General Secretary, and a few colleagues when the tragedy struck on Thursday.

A close source of the deceased, who witnessed the incident but declined to identify his name, said Balogun ignored warnings to stay away from the rising ocean current.

The source explained, “What happened was that the current president-elect and other members went for a get-together with the immediate past executive members.

“The new president-elect had served as vice president in the outgoing administration, so he joined them for the handover party.

“Around 2pm, after playing football, Balogun went towards the shoreline and asked the General Secretary to take pictures and videos of him.

“The General Secretary warned him that the ocean current was too strong, but Balogun insisted he wanted to ‘enjoy the village life’ a little longer.

“At some point, the General Secretary left him at the shoreline because he could no longer withstand the waves.

“He only noticed from afar when locals began shouting that the president-elect was waving for help inside the water.”

The source added that attempts by local divers to rescue him failed as strong currents pulled him under.

His body, PUNCH Metro learnt, was eventually discovered two days later at the Museyo community, opposite the spot where he drowned.

“The incident happened on Thursday. By Saturday morning, the Baale of the community alerted us that a body had been found at the shoreline. We confirmed it was him. He was buried that same evening in Museyo,” the source said.

A video of less than 40 seconds of an eyewitness account, sighted by PUNCH Metro on Monday, corroborated the source’s account.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Joint Campus Council, described Balogun as “a beacon of hope, an embodiment of courage, and a steadfast advocate for the rights and welfare of students.”

In the statement, which was jointly signed by its chairman and spokesperson, Abdul-Raheem Abdul-Quadri and Ridwan Ajayi, the association noted, “He was a brave, strong, and dogged comrade, a shining light in the Lagos State student movement.

“He embodied resilience, dedication, and a genuine passion for service. He was a happy soul, a star with dreams as bright as dawn, and a leader committed to advancing the welfare and aspirations of Nigerian students.

“His life was marked by an uncommon dedication to service, a cheerful spirit, and a resolve that inspired everyone privileged to know him.

“In the prime of his journey, fate dealt us a devastating blow when the ocean claimed him. Yet even in his final moments, he remained who he had always been — a fighter.”

However, as of press time on Monday, she had yet to respond to the message sent by our correspondent.

This is not the first time Lagos has witnessed such a tragedy involving students.

In 2022, four teenagers drowned at Elegushi Beach, Lekki, after going swimming to celebrate the completion of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

The victims were among 10 secondary school leavers, aged between 14 and 15, who had gone to the beach for the outing when the incident occurred.

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Education

PHOTOS: 200-level Niger State varsity d!es after collapsing in her off-campus residence

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A 200 level student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, has d!ed after collapsing in her off-campus lodge.

The deceased, identified as Adamu Fatima Muhammad, with matriculation number U23/FNS/BCH/1093, was a student of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Eye Witnesses said Fatima suddenly fell ill at her residence outside the university campus in Lapai and was rushed to the General Hospital, Lapai, where she was later confirmed d3ad.

According to the source, the deceased had earlier lost both parents and was living with her guardian in Suleja, Niger State, alongside her only surviving brother.

“She was a humble and dedicated student. Her passing is a tragedy that has thrown the entire university community into mourning,” the source said.

Fatima was buried in Lapai on Monday according to Islamic rites.

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PHOTOS: School collapse in Indonesia leaves three de@d, 38 missing

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At least three students have been k!lled and dozens are missing following the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province, authorities have said.

National Search and Rescue Agency head Mohammad Syafii said as of 12.30pm (0530 GMT) on Tuesday, “the number of victims is 102 people, consisting of 99 survivors, 3 deaths”.

Rescuers are searching for 38 people believed to be trapped under the rubble following the building collapse, the National Agency for Disaster Management said.

Eleven people have been rescued from the rubble, and 91 others managed to escape, the disaster management agency said.

Seventy-seven victims were taken to several hospitals in the area for treatment for their injuries, according to the agency.

“Efforts to assess the site, monitor the remaining building structure, and prepare evacuation routes for victims are the primary focus of the teams on the ground,” the agency said in a statement on social media.

The agency added that the incident called attention to the need for the “strict implementation of construction safety standards”.

“The public and managers of multistorey buildings are urged to ensure technical supervision during construction to prevent similar occurrences in the future,” it said.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, a separate body, had earlier reported that “provisional data” indicated that 100 students were caught up in the collapse, of whom all but one had been located alive.

Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed at about 3pm on Monday as students were gathering for afternoon prayers.

Authorities say the school’s foundation pillars gave way as crews were concreting the fourth floor of the building, trapping dozens of people under debris.

The incident is the second building collapse in Indonesia in less than a month.

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Education

NELFUND closes 2024/2025 loan portal, sets timeline for next application

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund said the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday.

The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

Sawyerr said this was to allow the Fund to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.

He also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle, in line with its mandate to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans.

According to him, the loan portal will reopen in the second week of October for fresh applications and remain open until January 2026.

”NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.

“These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan and participate fully in the process,” Sawyerr said.

The managing director directed institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System to enable applicants access the scheme.

He added that all unverified applications for 2024/2025 would be automatically cancelled after Oct. 8, noting that students affected would be required to reapply under the new session.

He warned that institutions that failed to verify students’ records risk being publicly listed for non-compliance.

On upkeep stipends, Sawyerr explained that the payment for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November, adding that students were expected to reapply for 2025/2026 to continue receiving payments.

On repayment terms, he reiterated that the scheme remained interest-free while repayment would begin two years after completion of the National Youth Service Corps, with employers mandated to deduct 10 per cent of beneficiaries’ salaries.

He further expressed concern over arbitrary hikes in tuition and ancillary fees by some institutions, noting that a committee set up by the Minister of Education is working with regulators to harmonise and standardise fee structures across institutions.

Responding to concerns about upkeep stipends, he said the current ₦20,000 monthly allowance would not be increased immediately.

Sawyerr said an ongoing review of cost-of-living indices across different regions could however lead to weighted adjustments in future.

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