Four-Year-Old Pupil Of Brickhall School, Miguel Ovoke Buried In Abuja As Family Sets Up Foundation

The Brickhall School in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has named its early years Resource Room to the memory of the late four-year-old Miguel Ovoke, who tragically passed away at the school during feeding hours.

Ovoke had been declared dead at the Excel Specialist Hospital in Abuja.

The medical report, signed by Dr Akinwande Ajayi, on behalf of the medical director, indicated that he was brought in “on account of aspiration on meat while feeding at school."

The hospital said upon examination, the medical team found that the boy’s pupils were fixed and dilated, with a non-reactive response to light.

His peripheral pulses were said to be “impalpable, blood pressure was unrecordable, and there was no cardiopulmonary activity or respiratory excursions.”

The report indicated that all efforts of the medical team to resuscitate him failed.

The report concluded that he was “brought in dead.”

The school which is located at Cadastral Zone B11, Kaura in Abuja, is owned by Senator Joy Emodi.

She was a member of the 5th and 6th Senate before she served as Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters.

She is the founder and Chairman of the school, SaharaReporters learnt.

However, in a joint press release by the Ovoke family and the management of Brickhall school signed by the human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju on Friday, during the burial of late Miguel Ovoke at the Gudu cemetery in Abuja, the family said it would set up an educational foundation that would provide scholarship for indigent students in honour of Miguel to preserve the memory.

Brickhall School also noted that it would support the Miguel Ovoke foundation by granting scholarships to selected under-privileged children, in his memory.

The statement reads in part; “Out of respect for Miguel's memory and to honor his bright spirit, we suspended classes for over a week, allowing our community time to mourn and reflect on this profound loss. We have cooperated fully with the relevant authorities to ensure a thorough and compassionate resolution for everyone affected, especially Miguel's grieving family.

"The Ovoke family, management, 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 setup an educational foundation that will provide scholarship for indigent students in honour of Miguel. Brickhall School has decided to immortalize Miguel Ovoke by naming the early years Resource Room at Brickhall School in the memory of Miguel Ovoke. Brickhall School will support the Miguel Ovoke foundation by granting scholarships to selected under-privileged children, in memory of Miguel Ovoke.

"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.

"The Ovoke family wishes to inform the public that the privacy of the family be respected as they continue to grieve and heal and there should be no further protests or grievances against Brickhall School.

"We thank the police, the Ministry of Education and the general public for the support through these difficult times. God bless you all."

𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎:𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐣𝐚 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐣𝐚

Four-year-old Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall School in Abuja who died during feeding hours, was buried Today, Friday, May 10, 2024, at the Gudu Cemetery, Abuja. pic.twitter.com/nzyQN6LERQ

— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 10, 2024