Unilorin alumni association in the UK says its member did not die of coronavirus infection

MEMBERS of the University of Ilorin Alumni association in the UK have issued a statement debunking the story that their member Dele Jalade who recently passed away died from the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, Oladele Oladotun Jalade, a local community activist,  passed away in the UK while in hospital. Mr Jalade, an active member of the Nigerian Direct Diaspora Investment Summit UK forum, had been a passionate advocate for the observance of health guidelines and had been campaigning for Nigerians to adhere to government warnings on Covid-19.

Anthony Adelaja, the president of the Unilorin Alumni UK & Eire, said that after consulting with Mr Jalade's family, they are convinced that his death was not as a result of Covid-19 infection. He added that any stories which assert that Mr Jalade died as a result of Covid-19 are baseless, not supported by any evidence and spurious.

Mr Adelaja said: "Unilorin Alumni UK & Eire does not promote hearsay, we align with reliable information as relayed to us by trusted family members of the deceased. Please let us dignify our fallen icon by showing respect to his family during these sad times.

"Our focus leading up to the final rites for our brother will be on supporting his family in their period of grief  and this we do with pride and honour. May the lord grant Oladele Oladotun Jalade eternal rest."

Nigerians in the UK have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the country as about one third of all victims are from minority ethnic backgrounds. In terms of infected people, the UK is number six on the list worldwide with 84,279 people having contracted the virus, of which 10,612 have died, the fifth highest number of casualties in any country.