Praise Sodipo, an SS1 student, of Queens College who died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, ikeja following outbreak of diarrhoea has been buried.
The burial of the 14 year old girl at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos was witness by representatives of the school’s management, colleagues, family and friends of the victim.
While paying their last respect the breaked down in tears when the coffin was opened for all to see late Sodipo, who was dressed in her school uniform.
Her guardian, Lawrence Otun, said she was only 8 when she lost both parents, who were ministers at the RCCG. She was their only child. And was enrolled in Queen’s College 4 years ago, being the only pupil to be admitted on merit from Osun State.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Education has admitted blame in the death of the three pupils of the school, saying the incident could have been prevented if proactive steps were taken.
It was earlier reported that many pupils of the school were admitted in the sickbay after eating spaghetti and drinking water said to have been contaminated.
Two pupils – Vivian Osuiniyi and Bithia Itulua – who were in JSS 2 and 3 respectively, reportedly died as a result of the epidemic.
The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, had led a team to the school and ordered an investigation into the incident, just as the then Principal of the school, Dr Lami Amodu, denied the epidemic, blaming the report on haters of the school. Amodu was later transferred from the school.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Jide Idris, a few weeks later released a statement saying health records from the school’s sickbay indicated that a total of 1,222 pupils presented themselves at the school’s clinic on account of abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, in a statement, condoled with families of the victims, saying the government was addressing the problem.
He urged the pupils doing examinations in the school to continue to come from home, adding that the school would soon resume normal academic activities.
