Tragic Discovery of Nigerian Student in New York
A Nigerian woman, Oreoluwa Odetunde, has been found dead at her off-campus residence in New York, according to reports from PUNCH. Odetunde was a first-year student in the Master of Business Administration programme at the S.C. Johnson College of Business, part of Cornell University. The news has sent shockwaves through the academic community and beyond, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by international students abroad.
Academic and Professional Background
Odetunde was an international student who had previously earned a degree in Economics from the University of Lagos in 2017. During her time at Cornell, she was actively involved in several student organisations, including the Johnson African Business Society, the Black Graduate Business Association, and the Old Ezra Finance Club. Her academic excellence was recognised through awards such as the Forté Fellow and Sage Scholar distinctions.
Professionally, she had participated in research and strategy analysis for notable firms, including Anchoria Asset Management and Greenwich Merchant Bank, showcasing her dedication to the business field. In a statement shared on LinkedIn, the Cornell Johnson Graduate School expressed deep condolences, stating, "We are devastated for Oreoluwa’s family, friends, classmates and instructors and extend our deepest condolences in this difficult time."
Context of Recent Nigerian Deaths Abroad
This tragic incident adds to a series of recent reports concerning Nigerians who have passed away while living overseas. In the United Kingdom, footballer Saburi Adeniji died on February 6 after battling a severe brain stem injury. Additionally, another Nigerian student in the UK, Douglas Izevbigie, died in January following a struggle with aggressive leukaemia. These events underscore the challenges and risks that Nigerians abroad may face, from health issues to unforeseen tragedies.
The circumstances surrounding Odetunde's death remain unclear, and authorities have not released further details at this time. The community is mourning the loss of a promising young scholar whose contributions to her field and student life were widely acknowledged.
