By Omolola Olakunri

‘Life’s lost in the shadows of neglect. Voices silenced by the weight of indifference.’

Today, I write to express my heartbreak and deepest condolences over the tragic loss of a beautiful soul, Feranmi Akin-Akinye, who allegedly fell to his death while working on the Cocoa House in Ibadan. He was only 22.

As a mother, I weep.
As a Nigerian, I weep some more.

Distraught to read that he was tasked with mounting a banner on a building, a job that requires specialised expertise, which he did not posses. Best company practices encourage people with the right training to be contracted to do specialised work.

If truly this young man was tasked with an assignment that he lacked the requisite skills for, it’s clear that the company he worked for bears some responsibility for this very tragic loss.

Unfortunately, it’s often the case that in situations where there is high unemployment and poverty, workers, especially young adults, can be exploited and treated as expendable. For every life that is lost in a workplace accident, there are ten more jostling for the chair. As a result, companies have become arrogant, playing God.

Every day, lives are being wasted because of this callous indifference. Young lives, with the world before them. Our future award-winning Scientists, Tech giants. Inventors, decimated. Cut short and poof, gone.

The lack of job security, rights, and representation has created a dangerous situation, with young adults vulnerable to unsafe working conditions and unfair treatment. When there is no strong voice to advocate for workers’ rights or accountability, it’s easier for establishments to shift the blame or cover up such incidents.

On August 1, 2023. Vwaere Diaso, a medical house officer in Lagos Island General Hospital, tragically lost her life in an elevator crash. According to reports, the elevator carrying her plummeted from the tenth floor to the ground, resulting in severe injuries that led to her death. This is despite the fact that concerns had been raised by other house doctors, months before, on the viability of the lifts..

Must people die before anything is done?

Let’s not issue press releases that grandstand and or pontificate on company policy. About how the task that led to the loss of life was included in his employment letter.

In the desperation to earn a livelihood, today’s graduates will sign up for anything, just so they get a paycheck at the end of the month.
Just so they get off the streets of unemployment, and constant asking for handouts from their parents.