Students of Federal School of Occupational Therapy Protest Over Student Death

Sodiq Oyeleke

Students of Federal School of Occupational Therapy, Oshodi, Lagos yesterday protested the death of their colleague, Dayo Adekeye.

According to our source, Adekeye died last Wednesday in Lagos after falling sick at Federal Psychiatric Hospital,  Abeokuta, where he was posted for training.

The training is part of requirement for his studies.

Dayo Adekeye died on Wednesday

It was learnt that plans to organise the protest started when the school management restricted students from holding a procession in honour of the deceased.

The students accused their school management of not being considerate by posting Adekeye to a distant location despite being a sickle cell patient.

They lamented that the school management also refused to postpone the examination that was supposed to hold yesterday.

According to one of the protester who identified himself as Ajaja said who said the school is expecting them to write exams of 16 different  courses within two weeks when they are not computers. Adding that they treat them as slaves and they are paying N100,000.

In a pamphlet distributed by the students during the protest yesterday, they demanded for adjustment in the school’s posting system.

The suggested that the school bus should be used to convey students to their various posting locations since the ones in Lagos have the same route.

For those going to Abeokuta,  they recommended that the bus should convey them down once with their luggage.

The pamphlet read in part, “We are agitating against the loads of stress that our clinical students face during posting; and which primarily is one of the causes of Dayo Adekeye’s death. May his soul rest in perfect peace; zero welfare, disregard and ill-treatment meted out to our clinical students at their different posting sites.”

They also demanded for the provision of internet facility which will promote learning, awareness and development of students; total reformation of our hostels to avoid further congestion as there will be more influx of students come subsequent years.

Among other demands of the protesting students were provision of standard health facility, functional website, and proper lighting system that would illuminate the school premises and make it secure for students to move within the school’s environs.

When contacted, the principal of the school, Mr. Akin Adeoso, said he could comment because he was driving.

However, a lecturer in the school, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said some of the agitation of the students have been granted.

Adding that the school management have postponed the examination already and gave them opportunity to mourn their colleague.