Nigerian Student Dies in UK, Diaspora Raises Alarm over Chronic Illnesses

The death of a 37-year-old Nigerian student, Douglas Izevbigie, in the United Kingdom has triggered fresh concerns among members of the Nigerian community abroad over rising cases of chronic illnesses.

It was gathered on Wednesday that Izevbigie died on January 21 at a UK hospital after battling an aggressive form of leukaemia.

Following his death, a fundraising campaign was launched on GoFundMe to support funeral arrangements.

The appeal, widely circulated among Nigerians in the UK, was initiated by a woman identified as Sephora, who said the funds would assist the deceased’s sister, Kate, and their family with burial and other related expenses.

Sephora, who described herself as a colleague of Kate, disclosed that Izevbigie relocated to the UK in 2024 to pursue a master’s degree at Sheffield Hallam University.

According to her, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia midway into his studies last year and subsequently underwent treatment, spending extended periods in and out of hospital due to complications.

She noted that despite his health challenges, he remained committed to his academic programme.

The organiser of the fundraiser stated that Izevbigie was later found unwell and unresponsive in his room by his sister and was rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit of a hospital, where he was pronounced dead despite efforts to save him.

She described the loss as devastating for Kate, who had reportedly recently lost their mother in Nigeria and had been a major source of support for her brother throughout his illness.

Explaining the reason for the fundraiser, Sephora said the family had resolved to bury him in the UK due to the high cost of repatriating his remains to Nigeria.

She appealed to members of the public for financial support to cover funeral and other unforeseen expenses.

News of his death sparked reactions on social media, with some Nigerians expressing worry over what they described as a pattern of chronic illnesses among Nigerians residing in the UK.

An X user, Modupe Adeboye-Ayoroh, called for medical experts to investigate the trend and educate the public on possible preventive measures.

Another user, identified as @EmperorJakarta, advised Nigerians relocating to the UK to prioritise registering with a General Practitioner and undergoing comprehensive medical checks to detect underlying health conditions early.

In a tribute, an acquaintance, Osamuyi, described the deceased as a former coursemate and prayed for strength for his family.

Similarly, Olumide Adeyemi questioned whether cases of leukaemia were underdiagnosed in Nigeria or influenced by environmental factors abroad.

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Izevbigie’s death occurred less than a week after another Nigerian in the UK, Saburi Adeniji, died following a severe brain stem injury.

Adeniji, a footballer who played as a left winger for Kings Park Rangers Football Club of Sudbury, Great Cornard, Suffolk, was confirmed dead on Friday, according to a statement by the club.

The club disclosed that he had been in intensive care and remained alive until arrangements were made for his family to travel to the UK. His death followed earlier public appeals for prayers and financial assistance.