The #SaveMayowa saga; a concoction of contradictions, and a case study of donor fatigue in Nigeria. by Daddy Freeze
On the 28th of June 2016, as the tear-jerking story of the late Mayowa Ahmed’s travails with ovarian cancer went viral, emotions ran so high that the total sum of 121 million Naira was raised in 2 days. I put the sum at 121 million, because according to the police report released on the 12th of August 2016;
“To date a total of Eighty One Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty four Naira,Eighty one kobo (#81,278,954:81) was realised into Mayowa’s Bank Account while Total sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000 ) is in Gofundme Internet Account.”~ SP Dolapo Badmos, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command.
At the time of this press release, 1 US dollar was the equivalent of circa 400 Naira, so the Gofundme account alone raised N40million, and, with the N81m in Access bank, the total money raised stood at a whopping 121 million Naira.
Going by this press release by the Nigerian police on the 12th of August, Mayowa’s Access bank account was unfrozen to enable treatment commence. Please remember, that the GoFundMe account was never frozen in the first place.
Between the 12th of August when the Access bank account was ‘unfrozen’ and the 21st of August 2016 when Mayowa passed on, how much money could she have spent out of the N121 million in less than 10 days? Yes, although I am aware that air travel, treatment and funeral expenses might have cost a pretty penny, I’m quite certain that a huge chunk of that money is still left!
Between the 12th of August when the Access bank account was ‘unfrozen’ and the 21st of August 2016 when Mayowa passed on, how much money could she have spent out of the N121 million in less than 10 days? Yes, although I am aware that air travel, treatment and funeral expenses might have cost a pretty penny, I’m quite certain that a huge chunk of that money is still left!
Now, I have read of so many cases after the famous #SaveMayowa saga, where others like actor Leo Mezie, found it quite hard to raise N10 million, despite huge campaigns by popular Nollywood celebrities, and as at September 11 2016, the Punch Newspaper reported a story with the caption; “My colleagues are trying their best to save my life – Leo Mezie!”
Why, if I may ask, has it taken Leo this long to raise ‘only’ N10m? It’s definitely not the recession, because #SaveMayowa, within the same time frame, was able to raise N121million in less than 3 days! In my humble opinion, ‘Donor Fatigue’ has set in.
Why, if I may ask, has it taken Leo this long to raise ‘only’ N10m? It’s definitely not the recession, because #SaveMayowa, within the same time frame, was able to raise N121million in less than 3 days! In my humble opinion, ‘Donor Fatigue’ has set in.
What is donor fatigue? Well, donor fatigue is a phenomenon in which people no longer give to charities, although they have donated in the past. There are a number of causes for donor fatigue, including pressure to donate, overstretched budgets, and frustration with mis-managed charities and donation campaigns.
The latter seems, in my opinion, to be the case in the #SaveMayowa saga. The family might have meant well, but were engulfed in the grief of losing their loved one, or do not have the services of a good publicist in their employ. A lot of people proffer the argument, that the family should be allowed to mourn their loss in peace, however, without being insensitive to their plight, my fight is more for those we stand to lose, over those we have already lost! As I write this, Leo Mezie, according to reports on www.Naij.com on the 2nd of August, lost his right leg due to his kidneys collapsing, while trying to raise N10 million which is less than 8.3% of the total money raised for Mayowa. Also, I am of the firm perspective, that money raised publicly cannot be spent in private, thus, the lack of ‘prompt’ accountability on the part of Mayowa’s family, is further fueling the donor fatigue, and poor Nigerians who should have access to public funds in these austere times, are left to face their harrowing plights by themselves. How far gone will Leo Mezie and others be, before the family finally make up their minds to release a press statement and make some funds available for their treatment? Let’s all keep it in perspective, that just like justice, treatment delayed is treatment denied.
Today is the 11th of October 2016, about 1 month and 3 weeks after the Late Mayowa Ahmed R.I.P passed on, and not one word has been said by the family as regards to how the funds raised, were utilized.
Today is the 11th of October 2016, about 1 month and 3 weeks after the Late Mayowa Ahmed R.I.P passed on, and not one word has been said by the family as regards to how the funds raised, were utilized.
What legacy did Mayowa leave behind? A legacy of donor fatigue and distrust? Well, that depends on how the family handles this very sensitive issue.
What’s the way forward? I believe that the family should release a statement, in respect of how the funds were administered immediately, make some money available for Leo Mezie, and possibly set up a ‘Mayowa Ahmed research institute for ovarian cancer’. This, I believe, will not only help a few ailing Nigerians badly in need of funds, it would reinstate our trust in crowd funding for the ill, and would immortalize Mayowa. Which I think, is what she would have wanted. What legacy did Mayowa leave behind? A legacy of donor fatigue? Well, that depends on how the family handles this very sensitive issue.
Rest in peace Mayowa………..
Rest in peace Mayowa………..
Dear CP Fatai Owoseni, SP Dolapo Badmos PPRO, Lagos state House of Representatives and His excellency, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, kindly look into this matter, so as not to let the populace lose confidence in donating money towards terminally ill citizens.
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