The Fate of Philanthropy in Nigeria

In the past decades, Philanthropy has taken different forms which have continually gotten visibility and growth. The vast evolving technology and human enlightenment has shaken the act of Philanthropy from just orphanage outreaches and gifts for children with disabilities, to different and ‘stylish’ ways of giving out. It now varies from community outreaches, to school outreaches, to church outreaches, to fun fairs and parties, to market outreaches, and so on. 

An unarguable fact is that in anyway a Philanthropic act was carried out, people from the grassroots and the less privileged ones have been shone rays of hope, smiles have been put on people's faces when they are at their worst, help have been rendered and relieve, granted them once in a while. So, whether these philanthropic acts were performed annually, bi-weekly, or bi-annually, people have gained greatly from them.

It is also incontestable that everyone cannot benefit from philanthropists, but the few that exist help those they can in their own ways. The point is, Philanthropy has been a norm in the country. The numbers of philanthropists, ranging from church leaders to Non-Government Organizations,to individuals, companies and groups, have immensely increased, and fortunately, the worsening and crippling state of the Nigerian economy, has been the avenue for more philanthropists to stretch their helping hands to the less privileged.

However, it is a different story for Nigerians this year as annual Philanthropic acts turn sour and produce over 60 dead bodies in three states combined. 

Recall that a funfair event in Ibadan Oyo state, giveaway event in Maitama, Abuja and palliative distribution in Okija, Anambra state, recorded about 35, 10 and 20 people's deaths consecutively from the same cause-Stampede.

Following the stampede occurrences and the deaths that followed, authorities have since arrested the organizers of these events, holding them responsible for the lives lost. Of all these arrested organizers, the most notable arrest was that of the organizers of the Ibadan fun fair, which includes the founder of the Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WING), Naomi Silekunola, the ex wife of the Oni of Ile-Ife, His imperial majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; Oriyomi Hamzat, the Chief Executive Officer of Agidigbo FM and Fasasi Abdullahi, the principal of the Islamic high school, Ibadan.

Recall also that on Wednesday 18th December 2024, a funfair event for children between 0-13 ages, was set to hold at the Islamic high school, Bashorun, Ibadan, by 10am while security operatives were scheduled to resume duty at the entrance of the school by 8am. On the morning of the event, at around 7am, more than 5000  people showed up, some had slept the venue the day before the event while some travelled down from neighbouring states, giving the number of the crowd such an increase, causing hassles, struggles for spots inside and freebies on their way out, parents, seen tossing their children over the gate, and eventually stampedes that hit the 35 unlucky victims.

The organizing trio have been detained at the Agodi custodial centre by Chief magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi of magistrate Court 1, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on charges of conspiracy, causing death by negligence and failing to provide adequate security and medical facilities at the event and are not set to be released until the 13th of January, 2025. Netizens and supporters have since been expressing their concerns for the ex-queen, offered words of comfort, and lamented the seemingly unfair issue. That appears to not be enough, as a petition was also filed to support Naomi. Yetunde Ola, who created the petition, made it known that Naomi’s intentions were good and she had organized similar events in the past. It stated further that the ex-queen has been ‘unfairly entangled in a Web of legal accusations that were both disheartening and misplaced’.

The outcry has continued from different people hoping for a fast release of the ex-queen and the rests. Outcries that included pleas, lamentations and regrets for the organizers. There was the ‘if they didn't organize the event, they wouldn't have gotten into trouble like this!

Let's be candid, the whole painful experience, the trauma that might follow for the organizers, and the realization that hunger, greed and corruption has awaken the beast mode in Nigerians are likely to make philanthropic gestures decline. When people work hard for their money, earn hard and decide to reach out to the less privileged, but end up locked up in police cells, they would seldom try it again next time. Of course valuable lessons would have been learnt on proper planning and human management but a scarred spot can never look like a normal spot again.

The forgoing beg the questions:

Will Philanthropy be the same in Nigeria again?

Will Nigerians learn from these past events?

Will there be limits on some kinds of philanthropic events now?

If the economy does not improve, what will be the country’s fate?

What if philanthropists just give in to their voices of reasoning and seize giving?

In the end, the answers to these questions lie atop the palms of every member of this country, the government, the executives, the workers, the students, parents, children, youths, givers and takers, and so on. When the deeply corrupted minds are filtered, and everyone is responsible, maybe the country will find order. Do you also wonder if Nigeria will ever find order?