A student of the National Open University of Nigeria, Michael Coker, has died after collapsing during an examination at the institution’s Victoria Island Study Centre, Lagos, raising serious concerns over emergency response protocols at the facility.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred around 11am on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, shortly after students had entered the examination hall to begin their papers.
Eyewitnesses alleged that Coker collapsed suddenly while standing in the hall and was left unattended for several minutes as he gasped for breath, amid claims that an invigilator prevented students from offering immediate assistance.
A student, identified simply as Bukola, told PLATFORM TIMES that the situation quickly deteriorated as Coker lay on the floor struggling to breathe.
“It happened shortly after we entered the hall. He was standing with another student behind him when he suddenly collapsed. The student behind him held him and placed him on the floor,” she said.
Bukola alleged that a female senior lecturer from a neighbouring hall entered the venue and ordered students to return to their seats instead of helping the victim.
“She started chasing everyone away to write the exam even though he was on the floor, gasping. When someone told her that a student had collapsed, she replied in Yoruba, ‘E fi sílẹ̀, ó máa dìde,’ meaning ‘Leave him; he will get up,’” she claimed.
According to her, students became increasingly alarmed as Coker continued to jerk and gasp for breath, with no immediate medical intervention.
“People were asking if he had epilepsy or if he was convulsing. Someone even suggested putting a spoon in his mouth. All this while, he was still on the floor, but she kept chasing us away,” Bukola added.
She further claimed that it took several minutes before a nurse was contacted, adding that even placing the student on a chair was delayed.
“It was after more than four minutes that one invigilator said they had called a nurse. By the time he was eventually lifted onto a chair, he was already gasping badly.
“The nurse came later, gave first aid and he was taken downstairs through the elevator. We were asked to continue with the exam,” she said.
Bukola noted that students were only informed of Coker’s death after the examination ended.
However, another student and class representative of the deceased, Prince Preskit, offered a slightly different account, suggesting the initial intention was to create space around the victim.
“He was about to log into the system when he collapsed. I think the invigilator wanted people to give him space. When they realised it was serious, he was taken downstairs and rushed to the hospital,” Preskit said.
He added that tensions flared afterwards, with students accusing the invigilator of delaying medical intervention.
“Students started shouting that it was the woman who did not allow them to take him to the hospital on time. I wasn’t inside the hall when it happened, but I heard there was confusion,” he said.
Preskit disclosed that Coker was first taken to the Bonny Camp Military Hospital.
“He was taken there, but I heard he was referred elsewhere and later died on the way. It was an unfortunate incident,” he added.
Meanwhile, Bonny Camp Hospital denied reports that the student was rejected.
“The patient was not rejected,” a hospital official said. “He was referred to another facility where oxygen was available.”
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