By Ikpechukwu Ojobor
The death of a 600-level pharmacy student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), during clinical training at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla, has sparked outrage and prompted a petition from the university’s alumni.
In a strongly worded appeal to the UNN Governing Council, the Noble Foundation, an alumni group of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, condemned what it described as unsafe and inadequate conditions under which student pharmacists are made to undergo training at the Ituku Ozalla facility.
The petition followed the circulation of a disturbing video showing the student’s body crushed by a vehicle along the Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway.
“This boy could be your son or mine. He could have discovered the cure for cancer, he could have been the future President of Nigeria, and who knows whether he was the messiah we were all waiting for? Unfortunately, his dreams were cut short yesterday. Who knows the next victim of this avoidable circumstance?” the petition read.
The group accused the university of neglect by compelling students to live in unsafe housing around Ituku Ozalla village, where they are left to rent “face-me-I-face-you” apartments without basic amenities, security, or adequate lighting.
They also lamented the absence of proper accommodation, unsafe transportation routes, lack of emergency response systems, and the fact that coordinating lecturers remain based at the Nsukka campus, leaving the students without direct supervision.
“These conditions not only hinder their ability to focus on clinical training but also pose serious risks to their health, well-being, and very lives,” said Chidiebere Ugwu, Emeritus President of the Noble Foundation, who signed the petition.
“Every student deserves a safe and supportive learning environment, especially when engaging in essential hands-on training that is critical to their professional development.”
The alumni group called for the immediate relocation of pharmacy students back to the Nsukka campus on safety grounds, provision of temporary clinical training facilities within Nsukka, and long-term expansion of the UNTH satellite location at Obukpa.
They also urged the university to establish proper accommodation, meal plans, emergency medical services, and regular consultations with student representatives to ensure feedback and improvement.
“We trust that the Governing Council will treat this matter with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” the petition stated. “We are committed to working collaboratively to ensure students can pursue their education in a safe and supportive environment.” GMTNewsng
