As nationwide protests enter their fourth day, organizers and supporters have initiated GoFundMe pages to raise over N4bn, a popular online crowdfunding platform.
According to The PUNCH, a review revealed that by Saturday evening, three GoFundMe users had set a benchmark of N4.1bn to be donated.
Each fundraiser on GoFundMe ensures protected donations, observed incoming funds, indicated by green colour on the targets.
One campaign, ‘Nigerians in the United States of America and Canada,’ set a goal of N40,898,750 ($25,000).
The organizer, based in Washington, US, stated that the funds would provide resources like medical supplies, transportation, and essentials for protesters.
Rallying support, the organizer wrote, “Dear friends and supporters, The #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria took place today, with citizens bravely standing up against corruption and poor governance. As the movement continues, there are dedicated individuals who will be rallying again tomorrow to demand the change their country needs.
“We urgently need your support to sustain this critical movement. Donations will help provide necessary resources for the protestors, including medical supplies, transportation, and other essentials.
“Your contribution will play a vital role in ensuring that their voices are heard and that they can continue their fight for justice and good governance. We call on Nigerians across North America to show solidarity and support this cause.”
Another fundraiser, ‘Nigeria EO,’ aimed for N20,950,777.31 (£10,000), seeking donations from supporters.
“We are raising funds to provide the protesters with much-needed supplies and assistance on the ground. Your donations will help cover the costs of bottled water, snacks, and other refreshments for the protesters, first aid kits and medical supplies in case of injuries, and transportation for volunteers to help organise and support the demonstrations,” the organizer wrote.
The third GoFundMe campaign, ‘Endbad Governance,’ set a goal of N4,613,379,000 ($2,820,000).
In a related effort, citizens raised N1.8m for protester Ogwu Chijioke, who had been struggling to support his son’s programming ambitions.
Participating in the demonstrations on August 1, Chijioke shared his story with Channels Television at the Lekki Toll Gate, expressing his inability to afford necessary resources like data and tuition fees despite his son’s talent.
The interview went viral on Saturday, garnering widespread sympathy and support on social media.
Moved by Chijioke’s story, X influencer Morris Monye launched a crowdfunding campaign by sharing Chijioke’s bank account details, raising N1.8m within 24 hours.
Sharing a private message received from Chijioke on X on Friday, Monye noted that the donation target was reached within 24 hours.
