By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has taken decisive disciplinary measures following the tragic d3ath of Miss Isabella Chioma Ajana, a 100-level Law student of the University.
Recall that Isabella’s d3ath, which occured last month linked to Elmada Hostel’s controversial spare key policy, recently sparked off a chain of reactions and condemnation from the public.
Earlier reports had it that the deceased, who was a diabetic patient living in the Elmada Hostel within the school premises, unfortunately misplaced her room key, after which she urgently pleaded with the Hostel Management to urgently help her the room’s spare key to be able access her insulin medication kept in the room. However, Hostel Management allegedly insisted that she and her two roommates must pay ₦40,000 each (₦120,000 in total) before releasing the spare key to her, a policy many students have long decried as exploitative.
Despite Isabella’s repeated appeals and explanations about her health condition, she was denied access to her room and drugs for three days, as the Hostel Supervisor refused to release the spare key to her; and her health deteriorated rapidly.
On the third day, however, she eventually collapsed as she was still requesting and hoping for the spare key to access her insulin. And was immediately rushed to the University’s Medical Centre, where she unfortunately lapsed into hypoglycemic shock. On Wednesday morning, she regrettably passed away, just few days to her call to Law Students’ Bar. This triggered a plethora of reactions, public condemnation and online buzz that compelled the University Management to constitute a Committee to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding the student’s d3ath.
The Committee, chaired by Professor Mike Oddih, was mandated to thoroughly conduct their investigations and submit its report within one week.
Giving an update on the incident barely six weeks after, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Chinyelugo Arinze-Umobi, a statement released over the weekend, announced the immediate suspension of the doctors, nurses, and security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day Isabella was rushed there. She said the suspension will last for three months in the first instance, pending the conclusion and the outcome of the ongoing investigations.
The Vice-Chancellor further directed the Management of Elmada Hostel, which is a jointly owned but privately-managed facility located within the university premises where the Isabella resided, to immediately sack that on Supervisor on duty at the time of the incident. This is believably based on the reason that the supervisor allegedly failed to release the spare key to Isabella’s room even after repeated pleas, a delay that played a critical role in the circumstances that led to her d3ath.
Prof. Arinze-Umobi added that the University will re-evaluate its relationship with the hostel, stressing that all private hostels operating on campus must conform to international best practices in students’ accommodation and welfare.
“I wish to assure the university community and the general public that we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of care and safety for our students, in line with my vision of feeling the pulse of the students and staff and finding solutions,” she stated.
While extending her condolences to Isabella’s family and friends, the Acting Vice-Chancellor also reassured that measures are being put in place to prevent such incidents from reoccurring.
