The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of four-year-old Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall School, Abuja. Ovoke reportedly died on the school premises during feeding hours due to aspiration on meat while feeding at school.
The motion, moved by the member representing Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Rivers State, Hon. Solomon Bob, noted that Ovoke's death has had a "traumatic effect" on his family and classmates. Bob emphasized that if not addressed, the incident would paint a negative image of Nigeria in the community of civilized nations.
According to the motion, "The House is concerned that the death of Master Miguel Ovoke, a four-year-old pupil of BrickHall School, Abuja, on the school premises during feeding hours, is a clear indication of negligence and failure on the part of the school management to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for the pupils."
The lawmaker further noted that "The House is worried that if this incident is not thoroughly investigated and those found culpable brought to book, it will send a wrong signal to parents and guardians, and undermine the confidence of the public in the ability of schools to provide a safe and secure environment for their children."
The motion was supported by the majority of the lawmakers, who expressed shock and sadness over the incident. The House has constituted a special ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances leading to Ovoke's untimely death within four weeks and report back for further legislative action.
The committee, which is chaired by Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has been mandated to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident, identify those responsible, and recommend measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The House also observed a minute's silence in honor of the deceased, and condoled with his family and the school community over the loss.
Meanwhile, the school management has expressed shock and sadness over the incident, and promised to cooperate fully with the investigation. In a statement, the school said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear pupil, Master Miguel Ovoke. We condole with his family and friends over this irreparable loss. We assure the public that we will cooperate fully with the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his death."
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of pupils in Nigerian schools, and the need for improved measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Many parents and guardians have expressed worry over the ability of schools to provide a safe and secure environment for their children, and have called for more to be done to prevent such incidents.
The investigation by the House of Representatives is expected to shed more light on the incident, and identify measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
In a related development, the Federal Ministry of Education has expressed shock and sadness over the incident, and promised to take measures to prevent such incidents in the future. In a statement, the ministry said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Master Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall School, Abuja. We condole with his family and friends over this irreparable loss. We assure the public that we will take measures to prevent such incidents in the future."
The ministry has also directed all schools in the country to review their safety and security measures, and report back to the ministry within two weeks.
The incident has also raised questions about the role of the government in ensuring the safety and well-being of pupils in Nigerian schools. Many have called for more to be done to improve the safety and security of schools, and to prevent such incidents in the future.
In a statement, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Master Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall School, Abuja. We condole with his family and friends over this irreparable loss. We call on the government to take measures to improve the safety and security of schools, and to prevent such incidents in the future."
The incident has also raised concerns about the need for improved measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Many have called for more to be done to improve the safety and security of schools, and to prevent such incidents in the future.
In a statement, the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Master Miguel Ovoke, a pupil of BrickHall School, Abuja. We condole with his family and friends over this irreparable loss. We call on the government to take measures to improve the safety and security of schools, and to prevent such incidents in the future."
The investigation by the House of Representatives is expected to shed more light on the incident, and identify measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues, many are left to wonder how such a tragic incident could have occurred, and what measures can be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
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