Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) mourns the loss of one of its own, Nwachukwu Omiko, a final-year student of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who reportedly passed away during a football training session.
According to a statement signed on Wednesday by the Chief Public Relations Officer, Ubadire Agua, on behalf of the university management, the tragic incident occurred at the San Siro Football Pitch within the university.
THE WHISTLER gathered that Omiko, who was said to be asthmatic, slumped during training. Immediate efforts by fellow students to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, prompting them to alert the University Health Services.
“He was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre in the university’s oxygen-equipped ambulance at neck-breaking speed,” the statement noted.
Despite the swift intervention and medical efforts, the university expressed deep regret over the loss of the promising student.
“The university regrets that despite the efforts to keep Mr Omiko alive, it lost him to the cold hands of death,” the statement read.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has also extended heartfelt condolences to Omiko’s family, the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, and the entire student community.
However, in a proactive move, the university management has urged students to prioritise their health by checking their status with the university health services upon arrival on campus. It also advised students with underlying health conditions to avoid engaging in strenuous physical activities.
