A 500-level Building Technology student of Covenant University, Ogun State, Toluwase Jesutunmise, has died after slumping during a football training session on campus.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a statement by the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Timothy Anake, on Wednesday that the incident occurred on Monday, April 6, 2026.
The statement noted that the deceased student had participated in a football training session before stepping out of the game to rest after complaining of leg pain and fatigue.
It added that moments later, his teammates noticed he was gasping for breath and immediately rushed him to the university’s medical centre emergency unit, located opposite the playing field.
He was, however, said to have stopped breathing before arriving at the facility.
The statement partly read, “On Monday, April 6, 2026, the Covenant University community experienced the unfortunate loss of one of our precious students. Jesutunmise, a diligent and vibrant student, participated in a student football training session on campus.
“He stepped out of the game to rest after he was said to have complained of leg pains and being tired. In a short while, his football mates observed that he was gasping for breath, and they responded swiftly by taking him to the medical centre’s emergency unit, which was directly opposite the playing field. However, he had stopped breathing by the time he arrived at the facility.”
The vice-chancellor explained further that despite being brought in without signs of life, medical personnel commenced cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an automated external defibrillator, but all efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.
Anake also disclosed that Jesutunmise was subsequently certified clinically dead, with indications pointing to a prior undisclosed heart condition.
The incident generated reactions following alleged claims by some students that Jesutunmise was not placed on oxygen or given immediate respiratory support despite struggling to breathe.
Also an X user @kamiikunre wrote, “This oxygen has been an issue since 2017 KILODEEEEEE!!!! they never have! that medical center is just for decoration.”
Anake, however, clarified in the statement that there was no negligence on the part of the medical personnel and that all necessary equipment required for emergency response was available and utilised.
“We wish to confirm that there was no form of negligence in the response of the medical personnel or a shortage of any required equipment for the treatment.
“The management of the university, led by the vice-chancellor, was at the medical centre from the time of the unfortunate event until the parents arrived and remained with the family until he was laid to rest,” the statement added.
The institution expressed condolences to the bereaved family, describing the death as a significant loss to the university community and society at large.
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