NGO gifts 19-year-old with kidney defect N1m

A non-governmental organisation, Gifting Volunteer Network, has donated N1m to support the medical treatment of 19-year-old Oghenekome Nwachukwu, who is battling kidney failure.

The presentation was made during a visit to Oghenekome’s home in Lagos on Tuesday.

According to the head of the NGO, Belele Tamarau-Kuro, the organisation began crowdfunding for Oghenekome’s treatment in January 2025.

He said, “We began crowdfunding for Colette Oghenekome Nwachukwu in January 2025. It was not an easy journey, but our team made many sacrifices to get to today’s presentation, which included reaching out to different bloggers through paid campaigns, digital marketing paid ads, and free service from various newspaper platforms.

Tamarau-Kuro said the presentation demonstrated the NGO’s commitment to providing financial support to those who cannot afford medical bills.

“We are taking advantage of this opportunity to encourage well-meaning Nigerians to join us in our efforts to help the sick. As an organisation dedicated to making a difference and saving lives in their community, we are grateful to everyone who has supported us, particularly the newspapers,” he added.

Oghenekome’s mother, Rhoda, expressed her appreciation for the donation, stating that her child’s kidney failure diagnosis had been a significant financial burden.

She also revealed that her daughter was diagnosed when she was at school, adding that the transplant would cost N20m.

She said: “My child was diagnosed with kidney failure and we have been managing her for the past eight months. We were going for dialysis thrice a week and later, it was reduced to twice and each session costs N60,000 and we have gone for over 20 times. I was told that the only solution was a kidney transplant that would cost N20m at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

“I appreciate Gifting Volunteer Network for coming to my aid and not leaving a poor widow alone. I don’t have anybody since I lost my husband 13 years ago. She was in school when she was diagnosed.”