500-Level Student Dies at Covenant University After Collapsing on Pitch

A 500-level student of Covenant University, Ogun State, identified simply as Tunmise, has died after developing breathing complications while playing football on campus.

Tunmise, a Building Technology student, reportedly collapsed during a match and was rushed to the university’s medical centre, where he later died.

Sources on campus said the incident occurred during a Chancellor’s Cup fixture between students of Computer Engineering and Building Technology. According to accounts shared by colleagues, the student had requested to be substituted early in the game after complaining of weakness and shortness of breath.

“At half time, his situation got worse, they rushed him to the medical centre where the doctor on duty allegedly said Tunmise just needed air. But minutes later, said he had stopped breathing,” a student wrote in an online post.

The development has sparked outrage among students, with several alleging that the university clinic lacked basic emergency equipment, including oxygen.

“Apparently, they didn’t use oxygen or nebulizer… because the ₦1.9m per session school housing over 11,000 students had nothing in their arsenal,” the post added.

Students further alleged that Tunmise’s parents were informed of his death about three hours after the incident.

The incident is said to be the third of such cases within the institution, according to student accounts. They recalled that in June 2025, a 200-level Engineering student, identified as Mordi Nwese Daniel, was reportedly struck by lightning on the same football pitch and later died.

Another case cited occurred in April 2017, when a 500-level Building Technology student allegedly sustained a head injury at the school’s swimming pool and died after being taken to the clinic, where students claimed there was no oxygen or defibrillator.

As of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to issue an official statement on Tunmise’s death.

Efforts to reach the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Chichi Ononiwu, were unsuccessful. Calls and messages sent to her were not returned as of press time.

Meanwhile, some students expressed fear over speaking publicly on the incident, alleging that the university management often sanctions dissenting voices.