What was meant to be a fun outing turned into tragedy on Friday, September 19, 2025, when Balogun Damilola, a University of Lagos (UNILAG) student and newly inaugurated President of the Faculty of Education, drowned at a Lagos beach.
Eyewitnesses said Damilola, fondly known as Ayanfe Eledumare among friends, had asked a colleague to record him while attempting a backflip by the shore. Moments later, a strong wave swept him away before help could arrive. Despite desperate rescue attempts, he could not be saved.
His body was recovered the following morning, September 20, at Museyo Beach in Ibeju-Lekki, about two kilometres from where the incident happened, according to Dr. Farouk, a medical doctor who first shared the news on social media.
The heartbreaking development has thrown the UNILAG community into mourning. Friends, colleagues, and fellow students have been pouring out tributes online, remembering Damilola as a vibrant young man full of promise.
“He was my roommate, always full of life. Just last year, he became VP, and now he was leading us as Faculty President. This is painful,” wrote his colleague, Doyin Doski, in an emotional post.
Damilola had only recently been sworn in as Faculty President after serving as Vice President the previous year. His sudden death has left many students shaken, with renewed calls for increased safety measures and awareness during recreational visits to beaches.
More Stories
UI ranks fourth as LASU tops 2026 JAMB university preference list
FG Bans Honorary Degree Holders from Using ‘Dr’ Title, Declares Misuse Academic Fraud
Polytechnic Ibadan Extends Lifeline to Students With Incomplete Registration