Nnamdi Azikiwe University Suspends Medical And Security Staff After Death Of 100-Level Student Amid Alleged Negligence

 

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, has taken decisive disciplinary steps following the tragic death of a first-year law student, Isabella Ajana. The university announced the suspension of medical and security personnel who were on duty at the institution’s clinic when the student was brought in for urgent care but later died after days of deteriorating health.

Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Carol Arinze-Umobi, made the announcement late Friday night, explaining that the suspension will last for an initial period of three months. She emphasized that the measure was based on the findings of a special panel constituted by the university to investigate the disturbing circumstances that led to the death of the young student.

The unfortunate incident, which has continued to generate public outrage, traces back to late June. Ajana, a known type 1 diabetic, faced a health crisis after being locked out of her hostel room at Elmada Hostel, a private facility located close to the university. She and her roommates had mistakenly left their key inside the room. When they sought assistance from hostel management, their efforts to obtain a spare key proved futile, as the supervisor reportedly in charge of the spare was unavailable.

Days later, Ajana’s situation turned dire. Without access to her essential insulin and other medications left inside the locked room, her health rapidly declined. By the night of June 29, she was in a critical condition. Efforts to stabilize her began at the university’s medical centre after she was rushed there, but eyewitnesses and student accounts later alleged that her care was met with delays and insufficient attention.

On June 30, her condition worsened and she was transferred to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital. Despite further medical intervention, she passed away in the first week of July, sparking grief and outrage within the university community and beyond.

The institution responded by setting up a fact-finding panel to probe the allegations of negligence against both the medical staff who attended to her and the hostel management. According to Professor Arinze-Umobi, the interim report of the panel revealed lapses significant enough to warrant immediate disciplinary measures.

“As a result of the panel’s findings, the doctors, nurses and security personnel who were on duty at the medical centre that day are hereby suspended for three months, pending the conclusion of a thorough investigation,” she stated.

She further disclosed that the university had written to the management of Elmada Hostel demanding the immediate dismissal of the supervisor who failed to provide the spare key when the students needed access. “The inability of the hostel supervisor to respond at such a critical time contributed to the chain of events that endangered the life of our student,” she said.

The Vice-Chancellor stressed that Nnamdi Azikiwe University will be reviewing its relationship with Elmada Hostel and will require the facility to comply with international best practices in the management of student housing. According to her, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students remains non-negotiable for the university.

Reactions from students and members of the public have highlighted broader concerns about the standard of care in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Many have argued that the incident exposes systemic weaknesses in campus health facilities and student accommodation management. Calls for reforms in hostel supervision, healthcare delivery within universities, and stronger oversight mechanisms have grown louder since the news of Ajana’s passing broke.

Ajana’s death has been particularly painful for her colleagues in the Faculty of Law. Described by peers as a brilliant and promising young woman, her sudden passing has left a void that many say could have been avoided if timely interventions had been made.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor, while expressing her deep sympathy to the bereaved family, reassured students, staff, and Nigerians that the university is committed to raising standards of safety and care. She promised that corrective measures will not stop at suspensions but will also involve structural reforms to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.

“The university will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that our medical services and hostel management systems are significantly improved. The safety of our students is paramount, and no one should be subjected to preventable risks within our environment,” she declared.

The case of Isabella Ajana now stands as a grim reminder of the consequences of negligence, while also serving as a rallying call for accountability and reform within educational institutions. Students and parents alike are watching closely as investigations continue, hoping that justice, responsibility, and meaningful changes will emerge from the tragedy.