Otunba Kunle Akinyele, a prominent hotelier in Lagos, tragically collapsed and passed away during his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving service on Saturday.
The incident was shared on social media by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who revealed that Akinyele had signaled for help, possibly requesting water or an inhaler, before collapsing at the event.
A video accompanying the post showed Akinyele visibly distressed before suddenly falling.
The thanksgiving service was held at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters in Egbeda, Lagos State, in celebration of his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele.
According to the event invitation, a reception was planned to follow immediately after the service at the Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando.
The celebration had begun earlier in the day with the Akinyele family, their children, and guests attending the church service, after which the reception was to take place.
However, the joyous occasion was abruptly halted when news spread that Akinyele had collapsed during his testimony at the church. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
As reported by PUNCH, a vendor who had been preparing for the reception shared on Facebook that they arrived at the venue by 10 a.m. to set up for the event, which was scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The vendor mentioned that food, decorations, and a live band with around 25 speakers were all in place.
However, the tragic news led to the cancellation of the event, and guests were seen leaving in shock.
The vendor, still in disbelief, expressed sadness, saying, “This is how people die?” and noted that they couldn’t bring themselves to ask for payment for the event services under the circumstances.
As of this report, the cause of Akinyele’s death has not been officially confirmed.
