Tears as Nigerian woman dies after arriving UK for son’s graduation

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A Nigerian woman, Oluranti Akinyemi, has died in the United Kingdom shortly after reportedly arriving in the country for her son’s graduation ceremony.

PUNCH Metro learnt that a fundraising campaign was launched on JustGiving to raise £20,000 to repatriate her remains to Nigeria and cover related expenses. As of Wednesday, £2,087 had been raised from 97 donors.

In the appeal posted on the platform, Adekunle Ogundana said the funds would be used for her repatriation and funeral.

“Help us bring our sister, mother, friend and beloved home, Mrs Oluranti Olufunmilayo Esther Akinyemi (née Oluwalana/Ogundana),” he wrote.

According to the post, Akinyemi travelled to the UK to attend her son’s graduation but suffered a cardiac arrest less than 20 hours after arrival.

“She suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of the night and was rushed to Luton and Dunstable Hospital. After three days on life support, she was declared clinically dead,” the statement read.

The family described the incident as sudden and devastating, noting that funds were urgently needed to repatriate her body to Nigeria, settle outstanding medical bills in the UK, and cover funeral expenses. Punch