GistNexus – April 20, 2025.
Ilesa University, Osun State, was put into mourning as a 100-level student named Gbolahan Ojolo died suddenly when he was struck by lightning as he attempted to charge his mobile phone during the thunderstorm. The tragic occurrence happened on April 18, 2025, Friday night at a private hostel near Prototype Engineering Development Institute (PEDI) junction, Ilesa.
It is reported that Gbolahan, an intelligent student majoring in the Department of Business Administration, not only had his phone being recharged but also had a phone game going while playing it using earphones at the time when tragedy struck. During the very dense thunderstorm and lightning storm, a lightning bolt is alleged to have ignited a power surge which led to electrocution.
Related News
The University of Ilesa Management, through a statement issued by its Registrar, Funso Ojo, on Saturday, April 19, 2025, confirmed the incident. The statement was sincerely sorry for the premature death and offered condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased student.
Ojo’s message read, “The University of Ilesa, Osun State, Management regrets to announce the untimely and unfortunate death of one of its students, Gbolahan Ojolo, a 100 Level student in the Department of Business Administration.”. The fatal accident occurred on Friday night, April 18, 2025. Gbolahan was electrocuted while playing a video game on his mobile phone, which was plugged in his hostel room at a private hostel near the Prototype Engineering Development Institute junction. The electrocution was reported to have been triggered by a lightning strike during a thunderstorm.
The university authority promptly reported to the police the moment the incident occurred. Following initial investigations and after obtaining clearance, Gbolahan’s corpse was removed and taken to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, for further action.
The University of Ilesa also added that a thorough investigation had been initiated by the police to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the student. Although the immediate cause was attributed to a lightning surge, authorities demanded a thorough probe to eliminate any other possibility.
Eyewitnesses at the hostel said the scene was heartbreaking. One of the students, who refused to be identified, recollected that some students were in the hostel hiding from the rain when they overheard a big sound of thunder. Then, there was a scream coming from Gbolahan’s room. After hasty rush to his bedside, they found him unconscious, with the mobile still being charged and earphones inserted. Despite desperate efforts at resuscitation, he was already dead as a result of the electrocution.
University and Community React to the Shocking Tragedy
In response to the sad incident, the University of Ilesa Management responded promptly to reach out to the family of Gbolahan. Registrar Funso Ojo made public that the father of the late Gbolahan was promptly informed and was in Ilesa a while later. In an act of sympathy and unity, university managers, as well as the Police Area Commander, personally received Gbolahan’s father on his arrival.
Related News
Ojo stressed that the university community was deeply distressed by the loss and promised to extend help to the bereaved family during this period of mourning. He also noted that arrangements were being made for the emotional and logistical assistance to Gbolahan’s family.
The University of Ilesa has put in place measures to support the family during this period of their utmost grief and will continue to be supportive to them at this trying moment,” Ojo added.
Both students and lecturers bemoaned the unfortunate incident. The majority of those who were familiar with Gbolahan described him as a friendly, hardworking, and ambitious young fellow who had only just begun university life. Friends from the Department of Business Administration gathered in small groups within school premises, others openly weeping, while others reminisced about their time with him.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Kehinde Lawal, in another message of condolence, called upon the students to stay safe, particularly during harsh weather. He further promised that the institution would evaluate safety on student hostel campuses, particularly on the use of electronics when thunderstorms are nearby.
Conversely, in the broader Ilesa community, the tragic death has generated debates on electrical safety, especially during stormy weather. Some of the residents called for increased awareness campaigns on how to stay safe during lightning storms, highlighting the danger of using plugged-in electronic devices during such an occurrence.
A community elder, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, during an interview with GistNexus, declared, “It’s a tragic incident. It is a thing that many youth don’t realize the dangers attached to the usage of plugged electronics during thunderstorm. We have to do more public education on this to stop such a disaster from occurring again in the future.”
Safety Lessons and the Way Forward
The sad death of Gbolahan Ojolo has highlighted an imperative but often underestimated risk: risks from working on electrical appliances in the midst of thunderstorms. Experts have always warned about the risks involved in working with plugged-in equipment during lightning storms. Lightning voltage surge can travel through cables and plugged devices, leading to deadly accidents.
Electrical safety engineer, Mr. Kolapo Adekunle, informed GistNexus that one is to unplug electronic devices and not utilize wired earphones or chargers during thunderstorms. As he explains, “If lightning strikes close to your building, it will create a high voltage in electricity lines and electric wires. When your device is connected to the power lines by a charger, the voltage will pass through your device into your body and will electrocute you.”
He also directed that people should stay indoors but not go near water sources, electrical devices, and wired telecommunication equipment when there is a storm. “Using wireless devices like battery-powered radios and charged phones that are not connected to electricity is safer,” he added.
In the wake of Gbolahan’s death, the University of Ilesa has promised to launch a sensitization program for the entire campus on electrical safety during thunderstorm. The sensitization program is to include workshops, seminars, and distributing safety pamphlets to off-campus and on-campus students.
The Management further hinted that it will collaborate with hostel owners and landlords in the university community to ensure lightning protection systems are in place in hostels. It will minimize risk and prevent similar such heart-burning incidents.
The students have accepted the interventions, highlighting that not only should safety interventions be reactive but also proactive. A representative of the Student Union, Miss Tosin Bamidele, reported that the union would also push for regular maintenance inspections on the hostels to maintain standards of safety.
Gbolahan’s death is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of obeying safety measures, particularly in inclement weather. With his friends, relatives, and the entire University of Ilesa community mourning him, there is a common resolve to turn this experience into a learning lesson that can prevent countless lives in the years to come.
The university has made an official statement that there will be a candlelight procession next week in Gbolahan’s memory. In addition to this, a scholarship fund can be set up in his name for the benefit of students belonging to economically backward families—a reminder of the bright future that was so senselessly terminated.
Even as tributes continue to flow for the young scholar who had just begun to pursue his studies, the University of Ilesa stands firm in sorrow and solidarity, praying for the soul repose of Gbolahan Ojolo and comfort for his grieving family.
Related News
Reported by GistNexus Team and Edited by Mr. Chibueze Onwuka