The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mayowa

  • What becomes of Mayowa’s millions?

    What becomes of Mayowa’s millions?

    THE response rate was unprecedented. A public appeal for funds to treat of a victim of ovarian cancer, Mayowa Ahmed, generated more than N80 million a few days after the campaign was launched through the efforts of Nollywood actress, Toyin Aimakhu, and Miss Aramide Kasumu, the director of Lifestake Foundation, a Lagos-based non governmental organisation (NGO). The idea was to raise funds for a surgery that would be carried out on Mayowa in a hospital in Atlanta, United States of America.

    Nigerians, big and small, rose to the challenge and contributed generously to the #GoFundMe campaign such that about N82 million was raised within a short time But Mayowa’s ugly story would later turn uglier as efforts to save her life was later enmeshed in controversy, following Aimakhu’s alleged declaration in the social media that the fund raiser was a scam.

    The police, who intervened in the matter and froze the account where the sum raised was deposited, after investigating the allegations the two parties levelled against each other, described the controversy as a mere misunderstanding.

    Another widow of opportunity to save Mayowa, who at the time was a stage IV cancer patient, opened when the police lifted the ban on the account, opening the way for her to be transferred to a hospital in South Africa, whcih had allegedly offered to carry out a surgery to save her life.

    However, it turned out an effort too little too late, as Mayowa, who was flown to South Africa for treatment on August 10 died 11 days later. Her death was announced by a family member, Asiwaju Foye, in a series of tweets.

    The tweet had stated: “By Allah, in whose hands our lives is, Mayowa Ahmed has left us in this world. We pray that Jannat becomes her home #RipMayowa. She tried, we tried but God’s will prevailed #RipMayowa.”

    But for most Nigerians, the mourning days appear to have ended and they are now asking what becomes of the millions raised from the #SaveMayowa campaign.

    A representative of the Ahmed family, Tope Adeniran, who spoke with The Nation, said the family was still mourning Mayowa’s loss. Tope, who sounded distraught, said: “I am not ready to talk to any journalist on any story. I just lost someone, can’t you guys sympathise with us?”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ms. Dolapo Badmus, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said that the police would brief the media on the matter at the appropriate time on what would be done with the remaining sum realised from the campaign.

    Badmus said: “We are all human beings. When a life is lost, the first thing is to commiserate with the family. Right now, we are condoling with members of Mayowa’s family. I don’t think the issue of money should be the first thing for us to be talking about right now.  So, we want to leave the family for some time to go through their private period of mourning. But at the appropriate time, we will feed the members of the press back on the decisions we have made.  We will still act at the appropriate time.”

    Some leaders of non-governmental organisations involved with women causes and health care also shared their thoughts with The Nation on what can be done with the fund.

    The Executive Director, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE), Mrs. Betty Abah believes that Mayowa’s family, after they must have mourned her sufficiently, should make a public statement on what they intend to do with the fund.

    Abah said: “As the saying goes, the deed has been done and we cannot question God. It is time to take the next step and that should be fully characterised by transparency in the light of the recent controversy. My thoughts would be that they can donate to a charity organisation having to do with cancer.

    “I really can’t recall hearing much from the family following Mayowa’s death. I think they need to make a statement thanking the supporters, as well as stating the way forward, and that should include the use of the fund.”

    In the opinion of Dr Femi Olaleye, the founder and medical director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, a foremost NGO that offers health services in cancer related ailments for women, the funds generated should be donated to a cancer foundation so that more women can be saved.

    Olaleye said: “There are lots of women to help in cryotherapy, breast cancer surgery and other women related cancer ailments. My foundation offers free breast and cervical screening for women every Friday.

    “So there is a lot of opportunities for them to do great with that money and give back. I will manage it for them.  If not even all of it, they can use some of it and give back to other women who can come here and access treatment. More impact can be made that way.”

    Efforts to speak with Toyin Aimakhu on the latest development were futile. It will be recalled that in the wake of the controversy surrounding the funds after the alarm she raised on her suspicions of Mayowa’s family’s motives, Aimakhu took to her tweeter handle to explain her involvement in the fund raiser.

    In the said tweet, the actress had said: “I want to state for the records that I have never been a fraud and will never partake in one, not even at this stage of my career (which I hold to heart).

    “All my efforts were strictly on humanitarian grounds without recourse to any pecuniary consideration or the resort to cheap fame.

    “That said, whatever discomfort my reactions may have cost anyone from any quarters is highly regretted and I take responsibility.

    “Whilst I wish Mayowa a quick recovery and divine intervention, I want to urge us as a people to continue to exhibit that enviable Nigerian spirit of compassion and generosity and not because of this isolated case cease to be our sister/brother’s keeper.”

    With the death of Mayowa, it is obvious that the last has not been heard of the controversial #GoFundMe campaign funds.

  • Mayowa loses cancer battle in South Africa

    Mayowa loses cancer battle in South Africa

    Twenty-nine-year-old Mayowa Ahmed yesterday died in a South African hospital about 10 days after her admission.

    The late Mayowa left Nigeria on August 11 to treat Stage IV Ovarian cancer after her family was cleared of fundraising scam allegations by the police.

    When contacted, her elder sister, Mrs Tope Adeniran, told our reporter on phone that Mayowa died early yesterday.

    She expressed sadness that her sister died despite all the efforts to save her through the Whatsapp Social messaging platform.

    Mrs Adeniran, in tears, said: “I could not talk or text that was why I did not inform you. This is not fair; after everything.”

    She said the family had hopes that the late Mayowa would survive as she was said to be responding to treatment.

    “I really don’t know what went wrong.  But she was a bit better yesterday (Saturday),” she said.

    A family friend, Saheed Badmus, said Mayowa’s death came as a shock because initial report was that she was responding to treatment.

    “Tope called me this (yesterday) morning; she was crying.  She told me Mayowa was dead.  Yesterday (Saturday), we heard she was responding to treatment only for her to die today (Sunday).  She was in South Africa with her eldest brother,” he said.

    The late Mayowa’s brother tweeted news of her death on the social media yesterday.  Using his Twitter handle, @Asiwaju_Foye, he posted two tweets: “After a tough battle with Ovarian Cancer, Mayowa Ahmed of #SaveMayowa campaign has passed on; and “She tried, we tried but God’s will prevailed #RipMayowa”.

    Last week, the late Mayowa’s family released a statement, thanking Nigerians for raising funds (about N32 million – apart from the $100,000 raised online via gofundme) for her treatment abroad.

    This followed the police exoneration of the family of allegations of raising the funds without plans to treat her abroad.  The allegations were raised by Nollywood actress Toyin Aimakhu, Aramide Kasamu of Life Stake Foundation and a  blogger, Linda Ikeji.  The police cleared all parties of wrongdoing and attributed the allegations to miscommunication.

    The family had considered hospitals in the U.S., India and United Arab Emirates but settled for South Africa when other plans failed.

    The family sought treatment abroad after finding it difficult to get accurate diagnosis about the late Mayowa’s ailment. The situation was compounded by her sickle cell anaemia, which made the hospitals to attribute her symptoms to Sickle cell crisis most of last year.

    She was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer in June before the family started making moves to take her abroad.

     

  • Cancer patient Mayowa in South Africa for treatment

    Cancer patient Mayowa in South Africa for treatment

    Mayowa Ahmed, the cancer patient who was at the centre of a fundraiser scam allegations, has finally travelled to South Africa for treatment.

    A statement released by her family yesterday noted that Mayowa travelled to South Africa on August 11 after delays caused by bureaucracy in getting necessary documents for the trip, as well as the police investigation into allegations that the Ahmeds raised money despite being told she had no chance of recovery.

    However, the family was cleared of the allegations by the police.

    Mayowa and her family went online to raise funds help to treat stage IV Ovarian cancer ($100,000 through gofundme in the United States and about N32million in Nigeria)

    In a statement, the family thanked people who contributed to the funds and facilitated the travel process and explained why they settled for South Africa, instead of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which they had planned for earlier.

    The statement reads: “Although this seemed unattainable at first but to our astonishment, you all contributed in various ways with as little as N100 and in less than 72 hours our expectation was met and far exceeded.

    “As a family, it was our wish for Mayowa to leave the country on the earliest available flight to start her treatment but due to the much rumoured and alleged scam, we were faced with an overwhelming task of getting her flight documentations ready and missed the earliest scheduled appointment for August 1 in the UAE. In the midst of all this, several people and organisations working with us became sceptical and had to cancel appointments, including health care providers.

    “But for some well-meaning individuals who were not deterred assisted in activating our back up plan. And with the grace of the Almighty Allah, Mayowa finally left the shores of Nigeria to South Africa last Thursday to start her treatment.

    “On behalf of Mayowa, we want to say a very big thank you to everybody for your support with donations, prayers and logistics to facilitate the pursuit of giving Mayowa Ahmed a chance to live.”

    “To our various employers, we are extremely grateful for the trust and faith you had in us amidst of the allegations. Also the Lagos state police command for their diligent and thorough investigation which reinforced the integrity that the family stands for and was raised by.”

  • MAYOWA: TOYIN AIMAKHU’S LINE SUCKS!

    IF I hadn’t seen Toyin Aimakhu cry in movies, I probably would have been taken by her crocodile tears at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where she made a fun of everything she claimed was a true charity project to help save Mayowa Ahmed, the young lady who is down with Kidney problem and whose family resorted to public help to bring her back to life.

    After a messy marital separation from her erstwhile husband, Niyi Johnson and perhaps a messier one that tore her and her film marketer suitor, Seun Egbegbe apart, the actress appeared to be warming her way back to the heart of her fans with claims of charity works, until she shot herself in the foot again by calling the #SaveMayowaFund a scam.

    Between the blog that first denigrated the public donation and Aimakhu who followed suit with a louder cry, both have since gone under on this issue. Why? A good intention cannot be shamed for too long: Mayowa is on her way for treatment in UAE, even though more than the LUTH doctors who purportedly said there was no hope for the sick, Toyin Aimakhu had condemned Mayowa before her time.

    Indeed, she sucks in those lines, saying they made her lie to the world.

    According to Francis of Assisi, “Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.”

    After receiving bashing from fans, Aimakhu claimed she was only trying to clear her name, querying why Mayowa’s parent let them continue the campaign for donations when they (the parents) had been told by doctors that there was no hope of survival.

    What name or integrity is Aimakhu trying to clear, if I may ask? What integrity does she have that is costlier than the life of the sick girl? If indeed Aimakhu’s interest to help save Mayowa was genuine, she would not give up on the poor girl in that cheap manner. Apparently, the dramatic wailing actress did not take a deep reflection before creating a scene on the matter. And I wonder if she would be able to look at the sick girl in the face and say ‘you can’t make it’. Yes, the words she thought her parents couldn’t tell her. The foolish faith which she thought they have. The undeterred effort for which Aimakhu has tagged Mayowa’s parents thieves.

    In the words of Jackson London: “A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.” This, to my mind, is what Mayowa’s parent share which Aimakhu could not, perhaps because she is not her blood. It matters to a discerning mind if Mayoya’s life can be extended by just one day.

    Even if the plane takes-off only for her to give up at that point (God forbids) her spirit would know they stood by her till the very end. This is the kind of charity that Jackson London is talking about here.

    One can see clearly from this point that, like Aimakhu’s disposition, “Some indeed have tears naturally, when the higher motion of the soul makes itself felt in the lower, or because God our Lord, seeing that it would be good for them, allows them to melt into tears. But this does not mean that they have greater charity or that they are more effective than others who enjoy no tears.” -Saint Ignatius

    I recall that in 2012, our friend, Chris Kehinde Nwandu was confronted with a similar situation when raising fund for a fellow journalist, Laura Nduoyo, who some doubting Thomases ruled out for survival. Nduoyo needed N5million for corrective surgery, having been down with ‘acute gastroenteritis’, a condition resulting in an extremely swollen stomach accompanied with intense pain.

    Like Mayowa, some doctors said she couldn’t survive the ailment, but some people didn’t relent. They put their names on the line, and with the assistance of well-meaning Nigerians, they raised the money, sent her abroad and today she is a living testimony. Indeed, it is God that heals, not the doctors. It doesn’t matter if Aimakhu and her likes believe this or not.

  • Mayowa controversy

    •The police should get to the root of claims and counter-claims about her health

    Being down with life-threatening cancer is traumatic enough. But sapped by a needless but excruciating controversy is the limit.

    Yet, that appears the fate of Ms Mayowa Ahmed, 29, the Nigerian woman reportedly down with ovarian cancer. Her story was initially the golden testimony to the Nigerian heart of gold, even with a daunting economy and mass privation. Within 48 hours, using the instrumentality of the social media, Nigerians rallied to raise US $100, 000 (about N64 million) in aid of her treatment abroad.

    But the story soon changed — from the noble to the beastly. The Save Mayowa Fund, which had earned applause all round, became the subject of grave suspicion, bordering on execrable crime.  Mayowa’s family were alleged, by a popular blogger, to have scammed the innocent donors. The story — horror of horrors! — suggested the Mayowa kindred, having allegedly realised the seeming hopelessness of her case, decided to cash out on the donations. That very thought, of such an unconscionable conduct, to a close kith-and-kin, sent not a few howling mad. Where is their humanity?

    If true, many argue, such beastliness would block the chances of genuine cases needing help in the future. Such seething anger was further fuelled by the blog’s report that Toyin Aimakhu, who lapped up positive publicity for using her name and her robust fan base to drive help for Ms Ahmed, had allegedly dragged the police to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, to arrest the alleged scammers. A report even claimed the police had frozen the Save Mayowa account, to keep the alleged scammers from their loot.

    But in yet another sharp turn of events, the Mayowa Ahmed family just responded, distancing themselves from such an evil scheme, and insisting that Mayowa was indeed Abu Dhabi-bound for treatment. The family poured cold water on the blog’s suggestion that because the patient’s ovarian cancer had reportedly reached stage four, it was beyond redemption.

    “The girl said she doesn’t want to die like this,” a family friend told The Nation. “She is not giving up on herself. It is not like the hospital she is going to in Abu Dhabi is promising a miracle. But they can take care of her.”

    That source also claimed the UAE doctors were in constant touch with their LUTH counterparts, who, she added, were giving the patient enough medication to strengthen her for a seven-hour flight. A part of the treatment regimen, she claimed, was the recruitment of flying doctors, to accompany Mayowa on her flight. This claim all but put paid to the earlier one that LUTH doctors had allegedly told the family that Mayowa’s case was near-terminal; and any effort to fly her anywhere could well prove fatal.

    Where is the truth in all of this? That is what the police must unravel — and fast! Nobody deserves this painful controversy, in their moment of grave health trial. Citizen Mayowa is ill. While wishing her speedy recovery, she has a right to bear her affliction with dignity. The relations tending her too need some peace of mind. Therefore, turning her into an object of media sensation is callous and sinful. So, let everyone respect Ms Mayowa’s privacy; and let the media, if they must report her at all, report with tact and utmost sensitivity.

    Still, the police have their job cut out. Is there a scam? If there is, the scammers must face the law.  However Mayowa’s case ends, no whiff of scandal should prevent a future case from the kind of benevolence Nigerians have shown her.

    If there was no scam, whoever was responsible for spreading such vicious rumour must face one sanction or another. Though the Constitution guarantees freedom of the press, that freedom must be exercised with responsibility. Even if the blog that spread the story cannot be formally charged, a prompt and conclusive police investigation would go a long way to discredit such media, and prevent any future recklessness.