Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level student at Obafemi Awolowo University’s College of Health Sciences in Ile-Ife, passed away on Wednesday after collapsing.
The incident occurred more than four months after Timilehin Toromade, an 18-year-old Part Three medical student at the same school, allegedly passed away in his sleep early on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
The Part IV medical student allegedly slouched just before his oral test session started on Wednesday.
The Great Ife Students’ Union called the death a “devastating loss” in a statement released on Thursday and signed by the union’s secretary general, Habeeb Oke Isa, public relations officer, Olowosile Oreoluwa, and Adelani Olowotodimu.
“Yesterday, our community was thrown into deep mourning by a deeply shocking incident as one of ours tragically slumped just as he was about to begin his oral medical examination,” the message said.
He was tragically declared dead hours after the collapse, despite medical efforts. Our university has been completely rocked by this unforeseen and unthinkable incident, which serves as a constant reminder of how short life is.
“We send our sincere sympathies to the deceased’s family, friends, and peers. We hope you have the tremendous resilience and strength needed to deal with this priceless loss.
We especially offer our condolences to the entire 400-level medical and dental class as well as the Medical Students’ Association.” We understand how devastating it is to lose a friend, a classmate, and a potential coworker at such a critical juncture in your medical career.
But it’s crucial to note that this tragic event highlights the severe psychological, emotional, and physical toll that demanding coursework can have on students.
“We must keep in mind that our health and well-being come first, even though there is a lot of pressure to succeed.”
His passing was previously confirmed by the Ife University Medical Students’ Association in a statement released on Wednesday.
”Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class,” the message said.
We knew the late Adewole Oreoluwa Emmanuel as a roommate, friend, coworker, and familiar face. Until the day of his death, a Part IV medical student had an unquestionably bright future.
We lost a rising star and a devoted member of the FUMSA family, so this incident is not only sad but also extremely devastating.”
“As we grieve, we ask God to grant his parents, siblings, family, friends, and everyone he has touched the unwavering strength to endure the loss.
We respectfully request that the public abstain from conjecture and respect the family’s privacy during this delicate time in order to honor his most cherished memories.
May Oreoluwa’s light shine forever. His influence on the lives he touched will always be remembered, and we will always treasure his memories.”
“An additional medical student has passed away. Adewole Oreoluwa Emmanuel, an OAU Part IV medical student, passed away after collapsing during his viva.
His career goal was to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. His goal was to preserve hearts. However, the system was unable to save him when his own heart needed assistance.
This is not a single depressing tale. It serves as a reflection of how little we regard the lives of people who are preparing to save our own.
How can you explain an ambulance showing up without a stretcher or oxygen? How can you explain a college that doesn’t have a functional defibrillator? In the absence of basic life support, how can you expect new doctors to persevere?
To the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, OAU, and IFUMSA: This cannot be another instance that is overlooked. There has to be a change.
Oreoluwa was deserving of better. Better was what his hopes deserved. “Rest on, legend!” he wrote.
Abiodun Olarewaju, the university’s spokeswoman, said in a statement on Thursday that the organization has started interacting with pertinent parties, including the grieving family, in order to determine the circumstances behind the event.
“The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University deeply regrets to announce the sudden passing of one of its medical students, Oreoluwa Emmanuel Adewole, a Part IV student in the College of Health Sciences,” the statement said.
Unfortunately, the student apparently complained of chest trouble during a clinical viva exam.
His lecturers and other medical students in attendance took care of him right away. He tragically died despite receiving immediate medical attention and every attempt to bring him back to life.
The university community has been rocked by this terrible loss.
“On behalf of the Governing Council, Senate, faculty, and students of the institution, Vice-Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire offers sincere condolences to the parents, siblings, and complete family of the deceased. In addition, he offers his friends, coworkers, and College of Health Sciences members his condolences for this terrible and irreversible loss.
To provide the necessary support and to further understand the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident, the university administration is currently interacting with the family and relevant authorities.”
