The management of Chrisland International School, Opebi, Lagos has reacted to issues surrounding the sudden death of their day student Desola Whitney Adeniran.
The 12-year-old deceased allegedly slumped and died while waiting to take part in a match-past on February 9th during the school inter-house sports competition at the Agege Stadium.
The school in a statement signed by Barr. Ike Ofuokwu, Chairman, Advisory Board, Chrisland Schools Ltd started the Whitney had earlier at the stadium opted out of the match-past in which she was scheduled to participate without a clear reason.
The statement reads,” The management and staff of Chrisland Schools Limited, with a deep sense of loss, announce the death of our precious student, Whitney Adeniran; whose painful exit occurred on Thursday, February 9th, 2023.
“We are heartbroken and distressed. Whitney was one of our Day students who opted not to
participate in the inter-house sports match-past for reasons we were not very sure of.
“However, on discretion, we respected her decision to err on the side of caution, because, on the 20th of January, 2023, it is in our records that she had complained about not-too-buoyant health and we immediately contacted her parents. Her father, Mr. Michael Adeniran, came to the school to take her home.
“We emphasized to her parents to take a critical look at her.
It is instructive to state, that Whitney slumped in public view and not under any hidden
circumstances, whatsoever.
“Our immediate response was to take advantage of proximity to first-aid, by identifying the nearest medical facility to take her to, where the Doctor on duty, administered oxygen and every aid possible to her.
“Even as her family made funeral plans for her immediate burial, we differed politely and reiterated
the need to establish a scientific verification of the underlying cause of her death, as mandatorily
required in circumstances like this.
“We immediately notified regulatory stakeholders and agencies to allow for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the developments. Despite the compelling imperatives to fill any information gaps in public space, we stopped short of making any media sensation out of this, because the deceased in question, was minor and deserving of our unqualified respect.
“We also prioritized according concerning the privacy of the
family and were with them consistently, to mourn together.
“This is a painful loss for all of us.
As parents, we feel the deep pain of this loss and our thoughts and prayers, are continual with the
family and friends of our beloved Whitney.
“As we continue to uphold the sobriety of this moment, we resist any urge to join issues on her
treasured memory, in media trends.
The statement added, “As we await the outcome of an independent-post-mortem process, we remain unwaveringly
committed to supporting the family at this critical moment and pray fervently for the fortitude to
bear her painful loss. “
