Hundreds of students of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, have reportedly been hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning in the institution’s butteries.

According to multiple sources who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, the school’s medical centre has been overwhelmed due to the number of affected students.

But the university is keeping mum over the matter as calls and messages to relevant officials were ignored and not replied to for many hours.

Parent confirms development
Meanwhile, a parent, who is resident overseas, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone conversation on Saturday.

The source, who does not want to be quoted for fear of victimisation of the child, said the student has regained some balance and is now recuperating in the school.

The source said: “We have had difficulties reaching our child since we received the news. But earlier today (Saturday), we got through to our child who confirmed being affected by the food poisoning but is now recovering well and is fairly stable.

Other sources also confirmed the development but rued the school’s decision to keep the matter secret.

A former employee of the university, who also craved anonymity, said the institution should have spoken on the matter “to douse the tension but all this hide and seek game doesn’t help the university.”

Ban on use of phones by students
After the founder of the university and General Overseer of the Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo, had abruptly announced the ban on the use of phones by the students of the institutions many years ago, any student found with a telephone on the campus is sanctioned.

The students who are offered computer tablets for their academic use are barred from accessing many websites and social media platforms.

In the past, the students were allowed to make use of a public phone booth for communication with their contacts outside the campus. Many students who adopted the use of email for communication also fear that their emails could could be tracked.

The development has made communication with the students difficult, even as the ongoing crisis rattles the institution.

Evasive university officials
Attempts to get reactions from the institution on the possible cause of the food poisoning, and how the situation is being managed were unsuccessful, as calls were evaded while messages were not replied to by officials.

The university’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Chichi Ononiwu, who did not pick up her telephone for hours, quickly cut off the call as soon as our reporter mentioned the incident to her when she eventually picked up the call on Sunday night.

Ms Ononiwu, who requested the identity of our reporter when she eventually picked up the call, cut off the line as soon as the matter was raised, and has refused to pick up subsequent calls.

Other journalists also confirmed Ms Ononiwu’s similar behaviour when they called her for comments on the matter.

Not first time
It is not the first time the university would be recording incident of food poisoning on the campus. A similar development was reported in 2010 when many students were said to have been hospitalised. Newspaper reports at the time confirmed the development.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/660792-many-covenant-university-students-hospitalised-over-suspected-food-poisoning.html

I wish the affected people a quick recovery.

But I will say the necessary truth to the consternation of religious fanatics. The papa in the Lord no see the vision abi the parents no pay tithes?

I honestly sympathise with the victims. But this is an opportunity to address those who see the likes of Daddy GO as unmistakable humans. They ensure no student uses a smart phone but they find it difficult to prevent a reoccurrence of food poisoning on the students. I don't mean they are God that does all things. But I sound this way because they often say everything is by faith. Those pastors that insinuate sickness comes to only those who don't diligently serve God. Those ones who, for example, say "Sickness can't live in you when you are filled with the Holy Spirit." They even say all it takes to heal diseases is papa's prayer. But students in papa's school are hospitalised. If you try to counter the claim and let them know that good hospitals and good food are the key to good health, they will say you lack faith in God.

Omihanifa:
The university’s Head of Media and Public Affairs, Chichi Ononiwu, who did not pick up her telephone for hours, quickly cut off the call as soon as our reporter mentioned the incident to her when she eventually picked up the call on Sunday night.

Ms Ononiwu, who requested the identity of our reporter when she eventually picked up the call, cut off the line as soon as the matter was raised, and has refused to pick up subsequent calls.

Other journalists also confirmed Ms Ononiwu’s similar behaviour when they called her for comments on the matter.

You need to see her at the front row in the Church during sevices.

He said He will prepare a table before your enemies. He never said they won't cook!

any student found with a telephone on the campus is sanctioned.

The students who are offered computer tablets for their academic use are barred from accessing many websites and social media platforms.

What nonsense and barbaric culture is this?

immortalcrown:
The papa in the Lord no see the vision abi the parents no pay tithes?

I honestly sympathise with the victims. But this is an opportunity to address those who see the likes of Daddy GO as unmistakable humans.

No one sees Daddy GOs as unmistakable humans.

Natural, humans are born to make mistakes.

Zonefree:
No one sees Daddy GOs as unmistakable humans.

Natural, humans are born to make mistakes.

Don't you see some people defending wrong preachings from some GOs?

immortalcrown:
Don't you see some people defending wrong preachings from some GOs?

Those ones are not humans again.

They were born humans but Indoctrination has erased the humanity in them.

Zonefree:

Those ones are not humans again. They were born humans but Indoctrination has erased the humanity in them.

What should I call them if calling them humans is wrong?

Maybe the man wants to renew his spiritual license
Iykyk

This is serious!

This is bound to happen in places where feeding is centralised.

This occurrence happens every where even in olympic villages and should not be unnecessarily blown beyond proportion.

However, the cafeteria should improve their quality control measure to ensure only wholesome meals are fed to their students to prevent further occurrences.

I wish them quick recovery

E nor go better for the moderator that ban this my moniker recently....

This year you go suffer 😓😓😓😭😭😭

Go ahead and ban this moniker again....

I have opened several others...

Wahala

Damn!

So phones are not allowed in CU little wonder, Timothy no dey joke with the little chance him get if he enter area

Eeya

I track lost phones
I sell/swap iPhone products
I repair apple products

A trial will convince you
Location is computer village

immortalcrown:
The papa in the Lord no see the vision abi the parents no pay tithes?

I honestly sympathise with the victims. But this is an opportunity to address those who see the likes of Daddy GO as unmistakable humans.

[sub][/sub]
You need to see her at the front row in the Church during sevices.

The way some of you think is appalling and childish.

Imagine not allowed to use phone in University. I swear na Primary school una still Dey because secondary student can use phone.

Backward school

Someone is up to something

May they recovery well in the mighty name of Jesus...

I thought the students can cook dia own food?

israelmao:


The way some of you think is appalling and childish,

Nothing childish here. They can see all problems but can’t see their own

israelmao:
The way some of you think is appalling and childish,

You just hate the truth because it pricks your conscience.

Vision failed papa.

Zonefree:


What nonsense and barbaric culture is this?

how is it barbaric?

Omo eating from samw kitchen....


The people wey no go kitchen that day like this go dey say dem escape that day like this...

May The healing power of God heal them in Jesus name

They should engage the services of better cooks