A lecturer in the Creative Arts Department of the University of Lagos, Chief E.A Bassey, died on Saturday evening while watching the finals of the 2012 European Championship between Chelsea and Bayern Munich in his house in Lagos.
His death came one week after the university lost its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tokunbo Sofoluwe, who died of cardiac arrest on May 12.
Though university source said he died of heart-related ailment, a source in the department who pleaded anonymity, said he died while watching the football finals which Chelsea won 4-3 on penalties.
“He started watching the match in his departmental office but later, he left the office for his quarters on campus where he continued watching the tension-soaked match. During the match, he complained of heat from within and asked that the fan be directed at him.
“Those who were watching the match with him did, but later, he said he wanted to go to the toilet and it was in the process of going to the toilet that he slumped and later died,” the source said.
Though efforts to get the comment of the Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Mr. Dare Seth, failed, a senior member of staff in the Information Unit of the institution, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to the press, confirmed Bassey’s death.
“Yes, it is true that Chief Bassey is dead,” he said.
Asked whether the deceased was a fan of any of the two clubs, the source said he did not know. “But what I know is that he started watching the match in his office before he left for his official quarters where he was said to have slumped,” the source said.
A student of the institution, Mr. Tosin Adesile, expressed shock at the death of the lecturer, wondering why another lecturer should die a week after the demise of Sofoluwe.
Also, a student in the Faculty of Arts, Funto Haastrup, while paying tribute to Bassey, said the multi-talented lecturer would be sorely missed by the university.
“He will be sorely missed. We will miss his creative ability,” he said.
His death threw the institution into a fresh round of mourning, as it was still making arrangements to bury the late VC on May 30.
News credit: Punch
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