IMSU Law Graduate Dies on First Day in Law School:
The registration at the Augustine Nnamani Campus of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) in Enugu State was not that rigorous, but Collins Nwoha, a visually-impaired graduate, posted to the campus, could not complete his registration before he died. It was the late Collins’ first day on the campus.
What could have caused his death? That was the question law students of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri, could not answer last week when the news of his death spread.
A pall of gloom descended on the institution’s Faculty of Law. Students wailed; some lecturers broke down in tears, wondering why a brilliant student should die in his prime. The late Collins studied Law at the university.
Being among the best students in his class, the late Collins was part of the first set of graduates mobilised for the Bar programme.
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CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the deceased enthusiastically left his house in Owerri for Enugu at 6am penultimate Monday for the Bar programme. He showed no sign of illness. On arrival at the Law School at 9am, he started his registration like others, with the help of his sister, Joy, and classmate, who always volunteered to carry the late Collins in his car.
Two hours into the registration, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Collins complained of headache and fever. His classmate asked if he should take him back home to see his family doctor. The late Collins politely told his classmate to allow him complete his registration before leaving.
At 3pm, Collins visited the Law School clinic, where he was unable to see a doctor. After waiting for several minutes, the deceased reportedly told his sister and classmate that he was strong enough to complete his registration and planned to travel back to Owerri the next day.
He completed his registration at 5:55pm and was allocated a temporary bed space in Snake Island Hall. As the late Collins’ classmate was leaving the hostel, his condition was said to have worsened, making his sister, Joy, to scream for help.
The deceased was rushed to the clinic, where a doctor laboured to stabilise him to no avail. Collins died in the clinic.
His classmates said the late Collins’ visual impairment could not deter him from achieving excellence.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that his brilliance made his colleagues to select him as their representative in the Students’ Union Government (SUG).
“The late Collins never saw his disability as a problem rather he was encouraged to do more than what people with two eyes cannot do,” a student said
Austin Chibueze, who saw the late Collins moments before his death, said: “I am still in shock. We travelled to Enugu together in the same vehicle. We went in for our registration together. I saw him going to his room in the evening but the next news I heard was that Collins is dead.”
Nwachukwu Ceevero, president of IMSU chapter of Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), described Collins’ death as a tragedy, saying he would be remembered for his exceptional brilliance. “The death of Collins Nwoha reminds us of the fleeting nature of human existence. It is a tragedy because he had laudable dreams even as a visually-impaired student. But those dreams could not materialise. He will always be remembered for his exceptional brilliance,” he said.
Prince Ndiokwere, the union’s Chief Judge when the late Collins was a member, said: “I have no words to express my grief because Collins’ death is a great shock to me, especially when I consider his achievement, despite his disability. He was full of dreams but we cannot question God.” (The Nation)
