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TRAGEDY struck on the day of retirement ceremony of Mrs Bello Dupe Omowumi, she reportedly collapsed and died while guests were already seated at the School for the Physically Challenged, Enu Odi, Ilesa, on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.
Bello, who was described by colleagues and students as diligent and devoted, had just concluded a long and distinguished career in education.
Her retirement ceremony was set to be a celebration of her years of service, but the event ended in shock and mourning.
She had only recently stepped down from her position as headmistress of the school, where she had served with commitment and passion.
The ceremony was held on the school premises, attended by staff, students, community members, and friends.
Witnesses reported that Bello arrived at the venue with a cheerful demeanour, joining in a musical procession with drummers leading her into the hall.
“She was smiling, dancing. Everyone was happy,” one teacher who requested anonymity recounted.
“Nobody saw it coming.”
After being escorted to the high table alongside her husband, Bello reportedly began to show signs of distress just minutes later.
“She looked tired, like she was gasping,” said another guest at the event. “People rushed to help immediately.”
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First aid was administered on-site, but when her condition did not improve, she was quickly taken to the nearby Ijesaland Geriatric Centre. Medical personnel there referred her to the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, where she was declared dead on arrival.
The news of her passing spread rapidly among guests at the ceremony, many of whom were too shocked to speak.
“One moment we were celebrating her, and the next we were watching her being taken away,” said a longtime colleague.
Bello’s body was later transferred to a local morgue, as the once joyous atmosphere at the school was replaced with silence and sorrow. Students and former pupils gathered in small groups, some weeping, others trying to comfort one another.
Dr Oni Gbolabo, a close collaborator with the school for six years and a regular supporter of its initiatives, declined to speak with the press, visibly grieving. His sombre appearance spoke volumes about the depth of his loss.
Bello was known not only for her work ethic but also for her compassion towards the students, many of whom live with disabilities.
Her death on the grounds of the school she helped nurture for years added a deeply poignant note to the tragedy.
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