Lagos Hotelier Slumps and Dies During Wife’s 60th Birthday Thanksgiving
A Lagos hotelier, Otunba Kunle Akinyele, tragically slumped and died during his wife’s 60th birthday thanksgiving service on Saturday.
The incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Iyanu, Odemuyiwa District Headquarters in Egbeda, Lagos State. According to digital creator Ayoade Ojeniyi, who shared the news on Facebook, Akinyele appeared to signal for help—possibly for water or an inhaler—before collapsing. A video attached to the post showed him visibly distressed moments before he slumped.
The thanksgiving was in honour of Deaconess Catherine Adejoke Akinyele. Following the church service, a reception was scheduled to take place at Noble Castle Events Centre in Igando. One of the event vendors revealed via Facebook that they had arrived at the venue by 10 a.m. for the celebration, which was set to start at 2 p.m. Guests were to move from the church to the reception—but the plans were derailed after the shocking news of Akinyele’s collapse spread.
He reportedly collapsed while giving his testimony, and efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful.
“The variety of foods was ready, decorations set, cocktail and emu oguro arranged, and the live band had arrived with about 25 speakers,” the vendor wrote in disbelief. She added that the Master of Ceremony had spoken with Akinyele around 1:23 p.m., only for the news of his passing to surface shortly after. The event was immediately cancelled, and guests began to leave in shock.
“I still can’t believe it… this is how people die?” the vendor lamented. “I can’t even ask for my balance for the job.”
At the time of this report, the official cause of death had not yet been confirmed. Akinyele was the owner of Ologbo Nla Hotel in Isheri, Idimu, Lagos State.
The heartbreaking video sparked emotional reactions online, with many commenters drawing attention to the heavy toll of stress and untreated health conditions, especially among men.
“So sad. Looks like the man was overwhelmed with stress over time… it eventually caught up with him,” commented one user, Taylor Sam. “Men should learn to slow down. Life isn’t a marathon.”
Others expressed sorrow and shared prayers for the deceased and his family. “That was his final duty to his beloved wife and family… death comes like a thief in the night,” Murtala Olalere Aderinto wrote.
Cicero Sasore-Whyte echoed, “It comes unexpectedly
