A lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Anslem Ojodomo, has died after collapsing while delivering a lecture to students, triggering anxiety within the academic community over a growing pattern of sudden deaths among staff.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, was confirmed by the institution’s management in an official statement.
The Rector, Prof. Salihu Avidime, described Ojodomo’s death as shocking, noting that the lecturer had shown no visible signs of distress prior to the incident.
Eyewitness accounts from students indicated that Ojodomo was actively teaching when he suddenly slumped.
Efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful, and he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The development has unsettled both students and staff, coming barely a month after another lecturer, Barnabas Akuba, reportedly died shortly after completing his doctoral programme.
Sources within the institution said the back-to-back deaths have sparked quiet concerns about staff welfare, workload pressures, and possible underlying health issues that may not be receiving adequate attention.
In his statement, Prof. Avidime recalled meeting Ojodomo just hours before his death, saying they exchanged pleasantries in what would become their final interaction.
He described the deceased as a committed academic who contributed significantly to the institution, both as a lecturer in the department of public administration and as deputy dean of student services.
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“Ojodomo was a dependable colleague who embodied scholarship, service, and character. His sudden demise is a painful loss to the polytechnic community,” the rector stated.
Ojodomo, born on October 5, 1992, joined the institution in 2021 and was said to have recently defended his Ph.D proposal at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba.
While the school management has focused on mourning the deceased, there has been no official disclosure regarding the medical cause of death, further fueling speculation and concern among staff and students.
As tributes continue to pour in, members of the academic community are increasingly calling for a more proactive approach to staff health monitoring and welfare, warning that the trend, if unchecked, could deepen fears across tertiary institutions in the state.
