Dipo Okubanjo, ex-sports editor, needs N20m for kidney transplant

Dipo Okubanjo, a former sports editor of PM News, has been diagnosed with kidney disease.

The journalist was diagnosed with renal failure in 2021, and the condition has kept him out of work ever since.

Okubanjo was a media officer with Covenant University, Ota, at the time of his diagnosis.

He had worked with many media houses, including The News/Tempo/ PM News, The Moment and The Union.

Okubanjo is currently on weekly dialysis at the Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos.

According to him, the doctors said he needs N20 million for a kidney transplant, a cost he cannot afford.

“I first thought I had malaria, and I went to my local clinic, where I was attended to without any significant improvement. I was asked to do a CT scan, and it was based on the result of the scan that I was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), from where I was referred to the Gbagada General Hospital,” he said in a statement made available to TheCable.

“It was at Gbagada that I was told that my kidney was failing. I was placed on three rounds of dialysis per week before it was reduced to two, with each costing N45,000. I now do one per week due to paucity of funds.

“So far, we have spent over N5 million, which have come from family, friends, my place of work and personal savings. Sourcing for funds has not been easy, but God has been faithful.

“It is impossible to raise the N20 million needed for the transplant while still battling to pay for dialysis. This is why I’m reaching out to good Nigerians to help with whatever token they can afford.”

Donations can be made to his bank account: Dipo Okubanjo — 3066204016, First Bank.

The veteran journalist is also reachable on 08023531323.