The death of a Nigerian student, Douglas Izevbigie, in the United Kingdom has raised fresh concerns within the Nigerian community about chronic illnesses among citizens living abroad.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that Izevbigie, 37, died on January 21 at a UK hospital after battling an aggressive form of leukaemia.
A GoFundMe appeal was subsequently launched to support his burial and assist his family with related expenses.
The fundraiser, created by a woman identified as Sephora, described as a colleague of his sister, Kate, stated that Douglas travelled to the UK in 2024 as an international student to pursue a master’s degree at Sheffield Hallam University.
According to the appeal, he was diagnosed with aggressive leukaemia midway through his studies last year and spent extended periods in and out of hospital due to complications.
“In the middle of his studies last year, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia. He underwent treatment and was frequently in and out of the hospital with complications,” Sephora wrote.
“Even through it all, he continued trying to keep up with his studies, showing remarkable strength and determination.”
She further disclosed that Douglas was found unwell and unresponsive in his room by his sister before being rushed to the Accident and Emergency unit, where he later died despite urgent medical intervention.
The loss, she said, has been particularly devastating for Kate, who recently lost their mother in Nigeria and had been Douglas’ primary support system throughout his illness.
The family has indicated plans to bury him in the UK due to the high cost of repatriating his remains to Nigeria.
“We are raising money to cover Douglas’ funeral expenses here in the UK, as well as any other unexpected costs that may come up during this time. The family’s plan is to lay him to rest here, as repatriation and funeral costs in Nigeria would be far too expensive,” the appeal stated.
Following news of his death, several Nigerians took to social media to express concern about what they described as a rising number of chronic illness cases among Nigerians living in the UK.
One user, Modupe Adeboye-Ayoroh, wrote on X, “Now this is the height of ‘too many’ Nigerians in the UK falling sick with chronic illnesses and passing away shortly after. Can doctors look into this pattern and educate people on what could be the causes?”
Another user, @EmperorJakarta, advised Nigerians relocating to the UK to prioritise early medical registration and comprehensive health checks.
“Every Nigerian that comes to the UK should be encouraged to immediately register with a GP and do full body checks… to ensure there aren’t underlying issues,” the post read.
An acquaintance, Osamuyi, described Douglas’ death as a painful loss, while another commentator, Olumide Adeyemi, questioned whether increased diagnoses of leukaemia among Nigerians in the UK were due to better detection abroad.
Douglas’ passing comes less than a week after the death of another UK-based Nigerian, Saburi Adeniji, a footballer with Kings Park Rangers Football Club of Sudbury, who died following a severe brain stem injury.
The recent incidents have intensified conversations within the Nigerian diaspora about health awareness, early diagnosis, and access to medical care overseas.
