Media Team
Damilola Balogun, a final-year Education student at the University of Lagos, tragically lost his life after being overpowered by ocean waves at Ibeju-Lekki beach.
Initial reports falsely suggested the 400-level undergraduate d!ed attempting a backflip, but eyewitnesses confirm he was caught in a vicious undertow.
The promising scholar, set to commence teaching practice on September 22, had recently been elected president of UNILAG’s Education Students Association.
Punch reports reveal Balogun was attending an executive transition retreat with colleagues in Idado when the incident occurred on September 18, 2025.
After two days of desperate search efforts, local fishermen recovered his remains near Museyo village on September 20, where he was laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
An anonymous attendee disclosed that despite warnings about dangerous surf conditions, Balogun ventured into the water for photographs. “He brushed off safety concerns, joking about experiencing ‘village life,'” the source recounted. “When rescuers spotted him struggling, the rip current was already too powerful.”
The Lagos NANS leadership memorialized him as “a radiant force in student activism” through an emotional tribute. Their statement highlighted his “relentless advocacy and infectious optimism that lit up every struggle for student rights.”
The commemorative message continued: “In his brief but impactful journey, Comrade Balogun exemplified courage and compassion. Though the sea silenced his voice, his legacy as an indomitable champion for education justice will never fade.”
