Late Douglas Izevbigie
The death of a Nigerian student, Douglas Izevbigie, in the United Kingdom has triggered renewed concerns about chronic illnesses among Nigerians living abroad, with members of the community launching a fundraising campaign to support his burial.
Newsmen gathered that a GoFundMe page was set up after Douglas passed away on January 21 in a UK hospital following a battle with aggressive leukaemia.
The fundraiser, widely circulated among Nigerians in the UK, was organised by a woman identified as Sephora, who said the donations would help Douglas’ sister, Kate, and their family cover funeral and related expenses.
Sephora, who described herself as Kate’s colleague, explained that the 37-year-old moved to the UK in 2024 to pursue a master’s degree at Sheffield Hallam University.
According to her, Douglas was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia midway through his studies last year. He reportedly underwent treatment and spent extended periods in and out of hospital due to complications.
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“Even through it all, he continued trying to keep up with his studies, showing remarkable strength and determination,” she wrote.
She said Douglas died unexpectedly after his sister found him unwell and unresponsive in his room.
“He was taken to A&E, but despite urgent medical care, he sadly passed away,” the appeal noted.
Sephora described the loss as particularly painful for Kate, who recently lost their mother in Nigeria and had been Douglas’ main source of support throughout his illness.
Kate had supported her brother’s relocation to the UK and stood by him during his health struggles far from home, she added.
The fundraiser aims to cover funeral costs in the UK, as the family has decided against repatriating his remains to Nigeria due to the high expenses involved.
“We are raising money to cover Douglas’ funeral expenses here in the UK, as well as any other unexpected costs that may arise during this time,” the appeal stated.
Following news of his death, several Nigerians expressed concern on social media about what they described as a rising number of chronic illness cases among Nigerians in the UK.
On X, Modupe Adeboye-Ayoroh called for medical experts to examine what she described as a troubling pattern and educate the public on possible causes and preventive measures.
Another user, @EmperorJakarta, urged Nigerians relocating to the UK to register with a general practitioner and undergo comprehensive medical checks to detect and manage potential underlying conditions.
Paying tribute, an acquaintance, Osamuyi, described Douglas as a former coursemate and prayed for strength for his family.
Olumide Adeyemi also questioned whether cases of leukaemia were going undetected in Nigeria or linked to environmental or lifestyle factors abroad.
Douglas’ death comes less than five days after another Nigerian in the UK, Saburi Adeniji, died following a severe brain stem injury.
Adeniji, a footballer and left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club of Sudbury, Great Cornard, Suffolk, was confirmed dead on Friday, according to a statement by the non-league club. He had been in intensive care and reportedly held on until arrangements were made for his family to travel to the UK.
His passing followed earlier public appeals for prayers and financial support.
The recent deaths have intensified discussions within the Nigerian diaspora about health awareness, early diagnosis, and access to medical care for Nigerians living overseas.
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