Nigerian social media users are expressing shock at the death of a 37-year-old Nigerian lawyer, Chidimma Ezenyili, who died after collapsing at her work as a caregiver in the United Kingdom.
Ezenyili was at her workplace, attending to an elderly client, when she suddenly slumped, leading to her collapse while on duty. Reports say that she suffered a severe brain haemorrhage in the process.
It was gathered that Chidimma Ezenyili was practising law in Nigeria before she migrated to the UK.
Recounting the incident, the daughter of Chidimma’s client, Catherine Segal, stated that despite feeling unwell, she continued her duties out of commitment to her responsibilities.
“She (Ezenyili) was driven there by her husband with their three-year-old daughter as she wasn’t feeling well but didn’t want to let my dad down.”
Speaking further, Segal said the caregiver collapsed, stopped breathing and did not have a pulse.
“Naturally, her husband started shouting for help. The neighbourhood raced to help. Myself and my husband ran outside along with our next-door neighbour and our neighbour from across the road. We had two GoodSAM first responders arrive shortly after to assist. The community first responder along with several ambulances, police and the critical care team arrived to take over attempts to save her life and were successful in getting her on life support in the ambulance.”
The development has since sparked reaction from Nigerians on social media, with many wondering why a lawyer in Nigeria will be a caregiver in the UK.
On X (formerly Twitter), Foundational Nupe Lawyer wrote, “From a lawyer in Nigeria to being a caregiver in the UK? What’s happening?”
Another Tweep, Azeez Adams wrote, “This is sad, one can imagine how a woman with a thriving career as a lawyer will go to the UK and become a caregiver.”
Frank the Writer wrote, “Chai, this is just a ripple effect of the bad governance in Nigeria. If things were good here, a lawyer wouldn’t travel abroad to go and take care of an 86-year-old woman.”
With the story still trending online, a user, Oladeyforyou wrote, “A Nigerian Lawyer working as Caregiver slúmps and dies just six months of relocating to the United Kingdom. This is really sad, if Nigeria was made a better place this probably may not have happened! May her soul rest in peace and I pray may we not encounter what will consume us as we hustle to get a greener pastures.”
