Joyce Onwuka
The fund raising exercise organised by some concerned citizens including media and corporate affairs practitioners to raise $35,000 (USD) about N57 million for Kolawole Kuforiji, a Nigerian journalist to undergo a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery in Turkey has reached the first milestone of over N1 million donation.
The total contribution so far coming from small donors with the smallest of N1,000 and the highest single donation of N200,000 is now N1,178,292.00, while the promoters are still waiting for the interventions of major foundations who have received letters requesting for assistance.
The fund raisers said that so far MTN Foundation and Shell Nigeria had declined that they would not be able to support, while a source close to BUA Group has requested for letter to seek for support which has been sent.
However, other such as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Dangote Foundation, All Nigerian Banks through the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB), NNPC Foundation, Chevron Nigeria Foundation, Guinness Nigeria Foundation, Nigerian Breweries Foundation, Total E&P Nigeria Foundation and Babcock University are yet to respond.
Kola’s media colleagues have issued a couple of press releases along with TV/Radio giggles since last year to sensitize the public on the urgent need to help the Nigerian journalist with the conviction that citizens from other sphere of life are quick to run to the media whenever they need help, and it’s imperative that the media should rise up to demand that the society should help one or any other their own that are in need of help.
One of Kola’s colleagues recently shared a video of a Nigerian who had similar challenge and went though a successful Deep Brain Stimulation surgery in the same Turkish hospital to convince those that are sceptical about supporting the fund raising exercise due to their wrong conviction that there is no medical cure.
According to him, Parkinson’s disease is not a death sentence, as advancement in technology in recent years has given many people new lease of life.
While awaiting the institutional supports to save the life of Kola Kuforiji, the group of friends that opened an bank account with Polaris Bank (Name of Account: SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI/ Account Number: 1790322317) have continued to make individual donations.
The life of Kola, a 54-year-old husband and father of two, who had worked for about two decades with Rhythm FM (Sliverbird Group) reporting business was turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a drug-resistant, Parkinson’s disease with pronounced difficulty in walking and tremor has been very ill for more than two years and the severity and debilitating nature of his illness has depleted the finances of his family.
He was initially treated at Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos, where a presumptive diagnosis of his medical condition was made.
He was over a year ago referred to LASUTH, but there has been little improvement in his health.
Medical treatment abroad now offers the best option for his recovery with a recommendation from Atasehir Medicana International Hospital – Atasehir / Istanbul, Turkey confirming that he will need a Deep Brain Stimulation surgery.
Over the years Kola has explored his media platform as a strong tool to drive financial inclusion and expanding frontier of knowledge of Nigerians on the activities and stride of the energy, banking and finance sectors at large to national development.
Despite his illness, Kola remains hopeful and determined to overcome.
BANK ACCOUNT FOR DONATION TO SAVE THE LIFE OF KOLA KUFORIJI
Name of Account: SOS FOR JOURNALIST KOLA KUFORIJI
Account Number: 1790322317
Bank: Polaris Bank