Incredible moment man slumped and d!ed at the 60th birthday thanksgiving of his wife in Lagos state pic.twitter.com/uL0SANxjCF
— GoldMyneTV (@GoldmyneTV) April 20, 2025
A Lagos hotelier, Otunba Kunle Akinyele, slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving service held on Saturday in Lagos.
The incident was shared in a Facebook post by digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who stated that the man had gestured for help, possibly asking for water or an inhaler, before collapsing.
A video accompanying the post showed Akinyele visibly distressed and gesticulating before slumping.
The thanksgiving was held in honour of his wife, Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele, at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters, Egbeda, Lagos State.
According to the event invitation, a reception was to follow immediately at Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando.
According to a Facebook post by one of the event vendors, they arrived at the venue by 10am for the party, which was scheduled to begin by 2pm.
The celebrant, her husband, their children, and guests had gone to church for thanksgiving service and were expected to proceed to the reception afterwards.
But the plans were upended when news filtered in that Akinyele had collapsed in church during his testimony.
Attempts to revive him were said to be unsuccessful.
“Variety of foods were set, decoration, cocktail, emu oguro, and many more,” the vendor wrote, adding that the live band had already arrived with about 25 speakers.
The vendor, still in shock, said the Master of Ceremony had spoken with Akinyele around 1:23 pm, but the news of his death broke less than an hour later.
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.
PUNCH Online gathered that Akinyele is the owner of Ologbo Nla Hotel in Isheri, Idimu, Lagos State.
The video sparked emotional reactions from social media users, with some highlighting the toll of stress and health neglect among men.
“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!” a Facebook user, Taylor Sam, commented.
Another commenter, Murtala Olalere Aderinto, wrote, “That was his last duty to his beloved wife and entire family… Death comes like a thief in the night.”
“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.”
As the video circulated online, concerned individuals flooded the comment section to share their reactions.
See some reactions below:
@Ekene_Chigozie: “Always check your Blood pressure.”
@iamizuogu: “Another landlady added. After men worked themself out they will never live to eat fruit of their labor. It’s sad landlady everywhere.”
@Adathebeloved: “Waooh. RIP to him and comfort to his family. He might have had massive heart attack.”
@EsioUweh: “Life is extremely unpredictable. Even in the moment of excitement anything can happen.”