Save Sanni Ganiyat Volunteer Group is a voluntary body of young and vibrant youths from Imota LCDA established with the purpose of saving Miss Sanni Ganiyat life. Miss Sanni Ganiyat is a 17 years old girl in S.S 3 at Community Senior Grammar School, Imota, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria but couldn’t write the 2019 West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) with her mates due to her illness. She had been battling with life since 2014 from the disease called LUPUS NEPHRITIS which had weakened her two kidneys and needed a surgery of kidney transplant to save her life. She was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
How We Started
In the process of achieving her humanitarian objectives, the volunteer group which was a conglomeration of members of Imota Students Union, League of Imota Muslim Youths, and some stakeholders of Imota Youth Development Association started organizing different formal meetings among other activities. The group had her inaugural meeting on 28th of May, 2019 and further agreed on the following: First, to source for fund for the surgery via social media platforms and sending letter of assistance to different philanthropists, political representatives, charity and religious organizations. Second, to always present either Mrs. Iyabo Sanni, Ganiyat’s mother account, Imota Students Union account or League of Imota Muslim Youth account to the general public in order to gather the money needed. Lastly, to always give a weekly financial report in order to uphold and maintain public trust and ensure maximum transparency and accountability in the entire processes.
Hence, the volunteer group paid a courtesy visit to Ganiyat’s family at Oriokuta area, Imota in order to revealed her plans and intentions to the entire family and to seek for their permission before commencing her activities. The family of miss Ganiyat Sanni further revealed to the volunteer group that Ganiyat mother is ready to donate one of her kidneys to save her daughter’s life and the cost of the surgery is eight million and five hundred thousand naira (8,500,000) equivalent to $25,000. After getting the family support, two members of the volunteer group namely Comrade Folarin Adegboyega and Mr. Bashir AbdulKareem Akbas respectively donated the sum of three thousand naira (N3,000) to design a banner and get some aprons to create public awareness and kick start her social work.
The Eid-il-Fitri Day
On June 4th and 5th, the volunteer group divided itself into different groups and went to solicit for funds at all the Muslim praying ground in Imota and the sum of one hundred and fifty two thousand and ninety naira (N152,090) was generated from the community eid, Ahmadiyah mosque, and Ansar-ur-deen mosque. The sum of two thousand five hundred and eighty naira (N2,580) was generated from Hasibunallahi mosque and the sum of four thousand and sixty naira (N4,060) was generated from Late (Mrs.) Munirat Sanni 10 years Remembrance.
It is important to note that the sum of nine hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy five naira (N912,875) was in Ganiyat’s mother account as at this period. However, between 7th to 9th of June, the sum of seven hundred and forty three thousand five hundred naira (N743,500) was transferred to Ganiyat’s mother account, the sum of twenty eight thousand naira (N28,000) was transferred to League of Imota Muslim Youth account, the sum of twelve thousand five hundred naira (N12,500) was transferred to Imota Students Union account, a brother from United Kingdom who want to be anonymous donated fifty thousand naira (N50,000), and this made the total money generated to be at one million nine hundred and one thousand five hundred and forty five naira (N1,901,545).
The Solidarity Walk And Support From Different Organizations
As part of the effort of the volunteer group, a solidarity walk within Imota town was organized on June 12th as a means to solicit for more fund from the populace and the sum one hundred and six thousand seven hundred and fifty naira (N106,750) was realized. From 9th to 13th of June, the sum of two hundred and forty nine thousand five hundred (N249,500) was transferred to ganiyat’s mother account, the management of Community Senior Grammar School, Imota donated a check of fifty thousand naira (N50,000) to ganiyat’s parent, the sum of ten thousand seven hundred and fifty naira (N10,750) was raised among the staffs of Imota Local Council Development Area, the sum of five thousand naira (N5,000) was donated by Shashashuna Elite Club, the sum of thirty two thousand naira (N32,000) was transferred to League of Imota Muslim Youth account, and the sum of twelve thousand naira (N12,000) was transferred to Imota Students Union account which made total money generated to be at two million three hundred and sixty seven thousand five hundred and forty five naira (N2,367,545).
From 14th to 17th of June 2019, the sum of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) was donated by NASFAT Imota Branch, the sum of ten thousand naira (N10,000) was donated by Genius Club of Nigeria, Imota, the sum of five thousand naira (N5,000) was donated by Elite Friends of ICGS 2010 Set, the sum of six hundred and ninety five thousand seven hundred and sixty five naira (N695,765) was transferred to Ganiyat’s mother account, the sum of two thousand (N2,000) was transferred to League of imota Muslim Youth account, the sum of seven thousand naira (N7,000) was transferred to Imota Students Union account. The total amount of money generated as at this period was three million one hundred and seven thousand three hundred and ten naira (N3,107,310).
Rally Within Obada Market, Imota And Other Donations
On 17th to 21st of June 2019, the volunteer group went to Obada market, Imota to source for fund and realized the sum of eight thousand six hundred and seventy naira (N8,670), the group also went to source for fund at Ilepo-Oba mosque, Sabo, Ikorodu and realized the sum of seven thousand three hundred and fifty naira (N7,350), the sum of five thousand naira (5,000) was received from Alhaja Qozeem, the total money in Ganiyat’s mother account was three million one hundred and fifty three thousand one hundred and fifty six and three kobo (N3,153,156,03), total money in Imota Students Union account was thirty one thousand five hundred naira (N31,500), total money in League of Imota Muslim Youth account was sixty six thousand naira (N66,000), and making the total amount of money generated now was three million one hundred fifty four thousand three hundred forty one naira and three kobo (N3,154,341,03).
Zakat & Sadaqat Foundation And Aftermath Event
After disclosing that the total money needed for the kidney surgery transplant by the volunteer group had be realized and exceeded, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation also offered the sum two million five hundred thousand naira (2,500,000) through the support of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Imota Chapter, which was to be paid into the hospital account while several other kind-hearted Nigerians still continue to send their widow mite support into ganiyat’s mother account.
It is also important to note that miss ganiyat developed a complication on June 18th 2019 which resulted into rushing her back to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for necessary medical treatment. During this period, Ganiyat was on oxygen while she continue receiving her dialysis and other medical treatments in the hospital. This medical exercise lasted for 3weeks. Miss Ganiyat was under the watch of her doctors at the hospital until July 10th, 2019 that she was discharged and transferred immediately to Zenith Kidney Centre, Abuja with the support of Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-olu, wife of the governor of Lagos State, Hon. Babajimi Benson, MHR, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Wasiu Kunle Agoro, Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Sunday Ayodele Benson, Vice chairman, Imota LCDA, among others.
While at the Zenith Kidney Centre, Abuja. It was unanimously agreed by key political stakeholders in Imota LCDA, Ganiyat’s family, and The Impact Group that further information about Ganiyat health and her where about shouldn’t be disclosed to the general public for personal reasons for the mean time until after the success of her surgery. Finally, on 10th of September, 2019, The Impact Group published a press release via her online media platform with the title: “Special Report: Ganiyat’s Kidney Transplant…. The Journey so far” to update the general public on the successful kidney surgery transplant and efforts made by her committee only.
Special Prayers For Ganiyat Sanni
Despite the great success recorded during the period of fundraising, the volunteer group still dim it fit to organize a special muslim prayer for miss ganiyat sanni on July 17th 2019 at Idera Mosque, Imota. Also, upon on the announcement of the success of the surgery transplant, another Muslim and Christian prayer was organized on 20th of September, 2019 at Imota LCDA Secretariat. And as part of her efforts towards appreciating all and sundry, the volunteer group wrote a letter of appreciation dated 25th of September, 2019 to all the central mosques in Imota LCDA which the public announcement and appreciation of the entire congregation was done on Friday 27th of September, 2019 across the mosques.
Conclusion And Appreciation
The Save Ganiyat Volunteers group wouldn’t have gone this far if not for the grace of God that the entire team had been receiving. At this point, the entire volunteer group have every reason to thank God for his benevolence, His mercy, protection, and guidance. We therefore uses this medium to return all glory to Almighty God.
On behalf of the Save Ganiyat Volunteer Group, we will like to use this medium to also appreciate the efforts, supports, and prayers received from all Nigerians that shown the true meaning of humanity, we appreciated all contributions towards the success of the entire processes, and pray God continue to enrich your pockets. Amen.
We cannot but thank His Excellency, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu and his wife, Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson, MHR,Hon. N.S Solaja, Mrs. Liz Da Silva, Hon. Wasiu Kunle Agoro, Hon. Sunday Ayodele Benson, Imota-Ayayo Development Association (USA Chapter), The management of Imota Community Senior Grammar School, Imota Muslim Community, Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) Imota Chapter, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, to mention but a few for their intervention and support towards saving Sanni Ganiyat. We say a very big thank you to all of you and for your concern before, during, and after the surgery transplant. We pray God answer all your silent prayers and continue to bless you all. Amen
To the entire volunteer group that worked tirelessly during the #SaveSanniGaniyat fundraising campaign particularly members of Imota Students Union, League of Imota Muslim Youths, and Stakeholders of Imota Youth Development Association. We pray God reward all of us abundantly and those nursing one illness or the other should also receive healing as soon as possible. Amen.
About Author
