University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan has commented on the passing of gospel singer Aduke Ajayi, also known as Aduke Gold, who died on Monday, August 12.
The news was shared by fellow gospel artist Esther Igbekele on Instagram on Tuesday.
Esther shared a picture of Aduke Gold along with the caption, “A general has fallen. RIP.”
UCH spokesperson Funmilayo Adetuyibi told the BBC that the singer was referred to UCH from Olabisi Onabanjo Teaching Hospital in Ogun State on August 3.
Adetuyibi mentioned that the treatment was progressing well until Aduke Gold passed away during the diagnostic process.
In a recent video, a family member revealed that Aduke Gold had cervical cancer, which was confirmed as the cause of death on the certificate they received from UCH.
After the musician’s death, a video of her family demanding the release of her body went viral.
In the video, a man said, “Finally, UCH has released Aduke’s body after several hours of shouting and screaming. They finally released it.”
According to UCH spokesperson Funmilayo Adetuyibi, the delay occurred because the hospital had not quickly issued her death certificate. Adetuyibi explained that Aduke Gold was in the general ward during her stay at UCH but passed away while being taken for diagnosis.
The spokesperson noted that the family was upset because they were requesting the death certificate from a doctor who wasn’t responsible for her care when she died. The delay happened because the doctor in the diagnostic area, where she passed away, was the one required to issue the death certificate.
“She was undergoing diagnosis and passed away during that process. She did not die in the ward or the theatre,” said Adetuyibi, who declined to provide further details of the singer’s medical history.
Aduke Gold was not only a talented singer but also a dedicated scholar. She earned a degree in history and international relations from Lagos State University, supported by a scholarship from Opeyemi Bamidele, the former commissioner for youths and sports in Lagos State.
Her academic achievements extended further, as she held an advanced degree in child psychology, a diploma in Montessori education from the UK, and various other qualifications in special education, aquaculture, cake making, cookery and decoration, music rudiments, and business.