*Adds N50m from personal fund to N201m donations
*Plans fundraisers for Dec
Uzo Nwogu
Multiple award winning and sensational Nigerian singer, David Adeleke popularly called Davido, on Saturday announced the donation of N251million to orphanages in Nigeria.
He stated that he added N50m from his personal fund to the about N201m that was donated to him.
Davido in a Facebook post said he was amazed that people could donate such amount to him with few days.
He particularly expressed amazement that poor people could donate N5,000, N3,000, N2000 and even N100 which, according to him, could be only money they have at that moment.
He called on all other musicians and other people to join hands and work for charity.
He stated he was thinking of embarking on a fund raiser in December, adding that he would be glad if his birthday would henceforth be dedicated to raising money for charity.
Davido said, “Hello everybody.
“First of all, I want to say ‘a big thank you.’ It was not anything that I planned. I am in Dubai by the way. I was literally on the balcony in a hotel and as a joke I posted account, saying my friends…. It was actually a thing I wanted to do with close friends and not making it public but I ended up posting it online.
“And the love that people have shown me is really unbelievable. I used to questioned myself that ‘Is being a good person even worth it?” i am saying this because I remember many times when people have said: “Davido, you are too nice. You are so accessible. You are too this, you are too that?” And it got to a point where I am evern thinking for myself: Is this thing affecting me?” But these past few days have shown me that ‘nobi by mouth.’ I appreciate it. A lot of people have called me and said: “It is your money, do not listen to what people are saying.” People are saying blazee blazee. Not to be cocky, apart from the fact that I don’t really…. the money is a lot, I cannot say I don’t need it. But I think there are more people that need it more than me. It was not even about the a million naira that people were posting, people were sending N5,000, N2,000, N3,000, N500, N100. This might be their last bar. This might be like the last money they have. But I am sure it is show the love they have for me and what I stand for and what I have done.”
He added, “Right now, we are about N201m. So I have decided to donate all the money out in Nigeria. And apart from the N20(1), I am going to add N50million of my own money. So that will be N251m that I am going to be disbursing. So that is N50m as thank you from me and N200(1)m that you guys donated. Like I said, I really appreciate it.
“We are going to have disbursement committee of five people of which I do know very well and have done very well for the community. These five people are goingto be the disbursement committee and they are going to be the people to receive the money and share it around motherless babies homes and also foundations around the wholecountry.I really want every part of the country to feel this.
“For the disbursement committee, first we have the Chairman of the committee 1. Mrs. Titi Adebayo– amazing woman,. She does so much for the community. So I would not even think of anybody else to head this. Professor Jonathan Nwosu is going to be the Secretary to the committee. Professor Yahana Joel Asabe Pastor (Dr) Oyalabo and also Professor Uloma Onuoha. These five people are going to be involved in receiving the funds for the committee and then the money is going to be shared to motherless babies homes around Nigeria and some foundations around Nigeria. We have a foundation called The Paroche Foundation, which has been going on for more than four years now. One of my close friends passed away years back so his mum started a foundation really for the youths, to encourage them, get them off the streets, get them off drugs and so on and so forth.
“It is just amazing to see that I did this a couple of days ago. Like as I saif, this was what I started as a joke. And I got N201m. That is really amazing.
“Also tomorrow is my birthday. I think tomorrow I will not be able to do anything. So I decided to drop this video today and get out of the way. It is amazing.
“My friends out there and and around the world will be a better place. Yea, I am even thinking of doing something in December, like a fundraising event to raise money and even put out more money out. I am sure I can do N201m, if we all come together, we can a billion and it will go a long way. It makes sense.It does not take anything from us. We put our ego aside and put whatever industry wahala we have and see how we can help our people. It is very important.
“Also all my colleagues out there, all my fellow musicians, imagine if we all come together and do this. It will be amazing. So I am not sure when but I will like this to be yearly thing for my birthday when we come together and donate money for the cause of good. Yea, like this December, I want to plan also a fund raiser, if I can, I will find one day in December that I am free and we can all come together and raise money. It is amazing how I just raised N201m in just in two, three days. I magine we all just come together and do this.
“Yea, I thank you all for all the birthday wishes. I thank you all. I love you guys. “
The talented musician also had in a tweet on his verified personal Twitter handle @DAVIDO announced the donation and the committee in charge of the disbursement.
Davido tweeted: “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my friends, colleagues, fans, and the public for the generous expressions of love in recent days. In my usual playful manner, I requested a few days ago that my friends and colleagues send money in celebration of my birthday.
“The response and outcome exceeded my expectations, as I received about NGN 200,000,000.00 in less than two days. I truly appreciate everyone who donated hard-earned funds and I am very thankful for your generosity.
“To oversee the distribution of funds to beneficiaries, I have established a five-person Disbursement Committee. Members of the committee include: 1. Mrs. Titi Adebayo– Chairman of the committee. 2. Professor Jonathan Nwosu– Secretary to the committee. 3. Professor Yahana Joel Asabe of the Northern Nigeria Seventh Day Adventist Union Conference. 4. Pastor (Dr) Oyalabu of Spring Time Development Foundation (SDF).5. Professor Uloma Onuoha
“The committee will compile a list of orphanages across Nigeria. They will determine the number of children and their needs at each orphanage, and then divide the funds accordingly. The committee will also determine the portion of the money that will be donated to Paroche foundation. To maintain transparency, the committee will make public the names of the beneficiary orphanages and how much each will receive.
“A list of all beneficiaries and their verified account details will be submitted to Wema Bank, who will then be instructed to credit each beneficiary’s account.”
David who turns 29 on Monday had on Wednesday challenged his friends to send him N1m each ahead of his birthday.
He wrote: “if you know I’ve given you a hit song, send me money… una know una selves ooo.”
The singer also posted his account number on his verified Twitter account.
He later revealed that donations in millions had been pouring into the account.
David later said he wanted to raise N100m, so he could clear his newly-purchased Rolls Royce from the port.
Davido said: “We rise by lifting others abi? Me I don dey rise dey lifting others for the past 100 years. So I want to know who my friends are. All of my friends one one million Naira. They said we are 30BG. If you don’t send your own. You out of here. You are gone (sic).”