Union urges varsity to rename zoo in honour of keeper killed by lion 12 months ago

One year after a fatal lion attack at the zoo of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the Chairman, OAU chapter of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Mr. Matthew Oluwaniyi, has called for the renaming of the zoo in memory of the late veterinary technologist, Mr. Olabode Olawuyi.

Oluwaniyi said the late zoologist’s enduring legacy necessitated tangible actions, beyond mere remembrance and rhetoric.

He made the suggestion on Wednesday February 19, at a one-day workshop to mark the first anniversary of Olawuyi’s death, held at Pit Theatre, Department of Dramatic Arts in the university.

The workshop, organised by NAAT, was titled “Workplace Safety Awareness”.

Oluwaniyi said the programme aimed to pay tribute to the deceased, whose tragic passing poignantly highlights the daily risks faced by numerous workers.

Persecondnews recalls that Olawuyi was killed on February 19, 2024, while attempting to rescue a woman who was being attacked by a lion.

The Registrar of the university, Mr. Adetunji Bakare, disclosed that the institution still plans to immortalize the late Olawuyi, while also honouring his heroism.

He also assured that measures have been taken to prioritize workplace safety for staff, creating a conducive environment that fosters their well-being and productivity.

Also speaking, NAAT National President Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, said Olawuyi was a martyr who died saving another life.

Nwokoma, represented by Dr. Rachel Hassan-Olajokun, called on the university management to rename the zoo in Olawuyi’s honour, a fitting tribute to his heroic sacrifice.

In the same vein, Mr Reuben Temerigha, the Managing Director of Western Diamond Energy Limited (WEDEL), urged organisations to provide a safe and healthy environment for their staff.

Speaking through his representative, Mr. Harry Ipalibo, Manager of Health, Safety, Security, and Environment at WEDEL, Temerigha stressed that workplace injuries and hazards continue to pose a significant and pressing challenge.

Temerigha said the deceased’s bravery and selflessness served as a reminder of the daily risks faced by many workers, underscoring the need to prioritize safety and implement preventive measures to avoid such tragic incidents in the future.

According to him, the major obstacles to ensuring workplace safety include inadequate awareness and training, non-adherence to safety protocols, hazardous working conditions, fatigue and human error, as well as a poor safety culture, among other factors.

To safeguard workers, Temerigha recommended a multi-faceted approach, including comprehensive training programmes, strict enforcement of safety technologies, fostering a culture of safety, conducting regular safety audits and risk assessments, and implementing employee well-being programs.

Olawuyi’s tragic death is not an isolated incident.

There has been several reported cases of zookeepers and wildlife professionals being attacked and killed by animals in captivity in Nigeria and around the world.

Persecondnews recalls that Mr. Babaji Daule, a 35-year-old zoo worker at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, was mauled by a lion on Saturday, September 28, 2019.

The Bauchi State-born lion handler was said to have forgotten to secure the locks and barricade the lion’s enclosure before approaching the cage to feed the animal.

The lion reportedly broke free from its enclosure and attacked the handler, inflicting fatal neck injuries that ultimately led to his death.

The victim’s body was later taken to the mortuary at Ijaye General Hospital, after the lion was fatally shot to release its deadly grip on the handler.