· Institute N150m endowment fund
By Sarah NEGEDU
The controversy surrounding the death of four year old Miguel Ovoke, may have finally been resolved as the bereaved family and management of Brickhall School have agreed to work together to immortalize the deceased.
News of the young Ovoke’ death sent shock waves around the country when the toddler allegedly choked on a piece of meat during feeding hours at the Brickhill School, Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura, in Abuja.
The child was rushed to a private health facility, but unfortunately, was declared dead on arrival despite all effort to save him.
A medical report dated April 24, 2024, and signed by Dr Akinwande Ajayi, on behalf of the medical director, indicated that Miguel was brought in on account of aspiration on meat while feeding at school.
The medical team found that the boy’s pupils were fixed and dilated with a nonreactive response to light. The report indicated that all efforts of the medical team to resuscitate him failed. The report concluded that he was ‘Brought in Dead.’
Mother of the deceased had earlier accused the school authorities of covering up on the incident, which led to the death of their late pupil.
The bereaved mother, alongside some loved ones had stormed the school premises on Monday, 6 May, to demand justice over the mysterious death of her son.
In one of the videos, the mother is seen bearing a cardboard paper with the inscription, ‘We Need Justice For Miguel, BrickHall School Killed Miguel.’
She was seen in another videos on social media, pointing at staff members of the school and identify them as people responsible for covering up her son’s death.
However, counsel to the family, Deji Adeyanju, told a press conference on Friday, that the Ovoke family have decided that “there should be no further protests or grievances against Brickhall School.”
Adeyanju, who disclosed this shortly after the burial of the child at the Gudu Cemetery Apo, said the Ovoke family and management of Brickhall School are working at immortalising the late Miguel.
The human rights activist, who spoke on behalf of Ovoke family and management of Brickhall School, explained that while the Ovoke family have decided to setup an educational foundation that will provide scholarship for indigent students, the school will support the Miguel Ovoke Foundation by granting scholarships to selected under-privileged children.
According to him, the scholarship scheme would amount to about N150million and run for five years.
In addition, he said Brickhall School has also decided to immortalize Miguel Ovoke by naming its Early Years Resource Room after him.
“Ovoke’s family, management and staff and students of Brickhall School have been thrown into mourning by the tragic passing of our dearly beloved Miguel Ovoke, who until his demise was a pupil at Brickhall School, Abuja.
“Indeed, no amount of tears can erase the pain of the loss, and we count this unfortunate situation an Act of God.
“We are consoled by our knowledge of the fact that it is the Almighty that gives, and he alone can take, for we as mortals are not in a position to question the wisdom of the Almighty.
“To preserve the memory of our son, Miguel Ovoke, the family will Brickhall School reaffirms their commitment to providing an excellent and child friendly learning environment for all of their students, and the Ovoke family acknowledges the positive steps taken by Brickhall School to address this regrettable incident,” he said.
