FUNAAB mourns 300-level student Oluwadamilare, who died of sickle cell complications

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) is mourning one of its own. Oluyemi Benjamin Oluwadamilare, a 300-level student of Plant Physiology and Crop Production (PPCP), died on Wednesday evening, 28 October 2026, from complications related to sickle cell disease.

His death was announced by the university's Students' Union Government in a post on X on Thursday, and separately by the FUNAAB chapter of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Students (NAAS). Both groups said he died on Wednesday evening.

The students' union described his passing as a painful loss to the FUNAAB community and sent condolences to his family, friends, coursemates and everyone who knew him. It prayed that God would give them strength and comfort.

NAAS, the body for agricultural students, also expressed sadness, calling the death a loss to the agricultural students' community. The association prayed for forgiveness of his shortcomings and eternal rest for his soul.

Candlelight session announced in his honour

The students' union followed up on Friday with a call to students to gather at COPLANT that evening, 30 October, at 6:00pm for a candlelight session in his honour.

"FUNAABites, we will be converging at COPLANT this evening," the union said in the announcement, inviting students to pay their last respects.

For many Nigerian families, the death of a young student brings home how heavy the burden of sickle cell disease can be. The condition is inherited, and a child develops it only when both parents carry the sickle cell gene.

Students and staff at FUNAAB are now left to comfort a family in Ogun State and a department that has lost a colleague in the middle of his studies.

No further details about his illness or burial arrangements were made public by the university or the student bodies.