The Brickhall School in Abuja has announced its resumption after closing for a week to mourn the death of four-year-old pupil Miguel Ovoke.
In a statement signed by the school management on Tuesday, the management expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased pupil.
Ovoke was 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 nonreactive 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.
It said, “It is with profound sorrow and deepest sympathy that we at Brickhall School, Management and the Parents Teacher's Forum express our heartfelt condolences to the family of our dearly beloved pupil, Miguel Ovoke.
“We are devastated to report that Miguel tragically passed away on April 24, 2024, following a sad incident where he choked on a piece of meat offal from his meal brought from home, despite the immediate and expert care provided by our dedicated staff and certified school nurse.
“In response to this heart-wrenching event, we convened an urgent meeting with our school community on the day of the incident.
“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 leadership of both the school and the Parents Teacher's Forum has personally visited Miguel's family to offer our support and condolences during this indescribably difficult time. We stand with them in their grief and extend our support to all who loved Miguel-his friends, classmates, and our entire community.
“As our school resumes, particularly for students preparing for their Senior and Junior School Certificate examinations, we reaffirm our commitment to the well-being and education of all our students.
“We have continued to work closely with medical professionals, law enforcement, and Miguel's family to clarify the circumstances surrounding this tragedy. In these efforts, we strive for transparency and sensitivity, mindful that the narrative shared in public may not always capture the complexity of such a deeply personal and painful moment.
“As a school, we consider this a most tragic incident and continue to take steps to seek resolution.”
The management said its “duty of care has been efficient, and we have never recorded an incident of this magnitude”.
“Our staff are trained on emergency procedures and first aid.
“Our licensed school nurse followed laid down procedures for handling such emergencies,” it said.
It added, “The loss of Miguel Ovoke, a cherished member of the Brickhall School family, fills us with profound sadness. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and assure them and all who grieve alongside them of our unwavering support and heartfelt empathy.
“We respectfully urge everyone connected to this tragedy to honor Miguel's memory with dignity and peace, while we allow the medical and law enforcement professionals to ascertain possible cause of death, as we continue identifying and engaging with the family. We will continue to strive towards maintaining transparency with our school community.”