Hotel owner in Lagos slumps & dies at wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving
A tragic incident occurred in Lagos on Saturday as hotelier Otunba Kunle Akinyele collapsed and died during the thanksgiving service held in celebration of his wife’s 60th birthday.
The sad development was revealed in a Facebook post by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who noted that Akinyele had appeared distressed, gesturing as if in need of assistance—possibly for water or an inhaler—before he slumped.
A video shared alongside the post captured the moment Akinyele struggled visibly before collapsing during the church service.
The event was organized in honour of his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, and took place at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters in Egbeda, Lagos State.
According to the event invitation, guests were to proceed to a reception immediately after the thanksgiving at the Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando.
One of the vendors who posted on Facebook mentioned that they arrived at the reception venue by 10 a.m. ahead of the event scheduled to begin by 2 p.m.
The family, including the celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests, had first gone to the church for the thanksgiving.
However, the celebration was abruptly disrupted when news broke that Akinyele had collapsed while giving a testimony in church.
Despite efforts to revive him, he could not be saved.
“Variety of foods were set, decoration, cocktail, emu oguro, and many more,” the vendor wrote. “The live band had already arrived with about 25 speakers.”
Still reeling from the shock, the vendor recalled that the Master of Ceremony had a conversation with Akinyele at about 1:23 p.m., but less than an hour later, his death was confirmed.
The event was cancelled, and guests were seen leaving the venue in disbelief.
“This is how people die?” the vendor lamented in the post.
“I can’t possibly ask for my balance for the job,” the vendor added.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of Akinyele’s death had not been officially announced.
It was gathered that the deceased was the owner of Ologbo Nla Hotel, located in Isheri, Idimu, Lagos State.
The video of the incident has sparked emotional reactions online, with many highlighting the toll stress can take on men’s health.
“So sad! From the look of things, the man was overtime stressed up, and an accumulation of it took him out. Men should cut down on their workload! Life no supposed be marathon o!” commented Facebook user Taylor Sam.
“That was his last duty to his beloved wife and entire family… Death comes like a thief in the night,” added Murtala Olalere Aderinto.
“It comes like a thief in the night, and snatched our precious life just like that,” Cicero Sasore-Whyte wrote. “Where? When? And how? No one can really say.”
“So sad! May his soul rest in peace. Hallelujah! He breathed his last while praising his creator,” said Sayo Akintola.
Some users took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of prioritizing health.
“This is extremely rampant in society now,” Atteh Isaac Taiwo warned. “Men, kindly take care of yourself health-wise to avert this kind of scenario.”
