Ex-banker seeks help to sustain kidney transplant
…Says N1.9m needed every three months for drugs
By Joseph Erunke, Abuja
For Mrs Kehinde Oluwatoyin Ugbede, a former banker whose career was cut short by kidney failure, a successful kidney transplant in March 2026 offered what she described as a second chance at life.
But four months after the life-saving surgery, Ugbede says the battle is far from over as she struggles to raise about N1.9 million required every three months to purchase immunosuppressant drugs needed to keep her transplanted kidney functioning.
The Economics graduate of the University of Abuja is appealing to kind-hearted Nigerians, Nigerians in the diaspora, corporate organisations, religious bodies, community groups and other public-spirited individuals to support her financially.
Ugbede underwent the transplant at Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja, after years of living with kidney failure, undergoing repeated dialysis and battling the financial burden associated with her condition.
She said her health challenges began just two months after her marriage in 2008 and lasted for about nine years before the transplant became necessary.
While expressing gratitude to her family, husband, brother, friends and members of the public who contributed towards her treatment and eventual transplant, Ugbede said she now faces another financial challenge: sustaining the medication required to prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney.
“We thank God. I also appreciate all the Nigerians that brought their money from different sources to assist us and stood by us,” she said.
However, she added: “After the transplant, I still need support. I still need your financial support to keep the transplant going.”
According to her, she currently spends about N1.9 million on a three-month supply of her immunosuppressant medication.
She explained that the drugs were essential to preventing her body from rejecting the transplanted kidney.
“The drugs are very important because without the drugs, the kidney can still reverse itself, and I’m not praying for that,” she said.
Ugbede said her husband, brother, family members and friends had largely shouldered the cost of the medication over the past four months, but the financial resources available to the family had been depleted after years of treatment.
“During the nine years of my kidney failure, we’ve spent all we had. We spent all we had and a lot of people supported us. Right now, we don’t have anything,” she said.
She is currently unable to work as she continues to recover from the transplant and hopes to regain sufficient strength to become self-reliant after about a year.
“Right now, I’m not working. I’m still at home. The surgery is just four months since I underwent it and that’s why I’m here to solicit for your support,” she said.
Recounting the beginning of her health challenges, Ugbede said what initially appeared to be typhoid later became a suspected ulcer before her condition deteriorated.
She said she initially sought treatment after experiencing symptoms she believed were related to typhoid. By December, she was told she had an ulcer and underwent a blood transfusion.
When her condition failed to improve, she returned to the hospital in January for further tests.
Although initial tests showed that her kidney, liver and other organs were functioning normally, her condition continued to worsen. She became increasingly weak and suffered frequent vomiting.
At Kubwa General Hospital, doctors recommended kidney tests, which revealed that her kidneys were failing.
She was subsequently referred to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, where she underwent several dialysis sessions.
After about nine dialysis sessions, she said doctors informed her that a kidney transplant had become the only viable option.
At the time, she needed about N10 million for the procedure.
She was later referred to Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja, where the transplant was eventually performed in March 2026 following financial support from family, friends and members of the public.
Although the successful surgery gave her renewed hope, Ugbede said the cost of post-transplant medication had now become a major burden.
She appealed to Nigerians at home and abroad to support her with whatever they could afford.
“I really, really need your help financially because during the nine years of my kidney failure, we’ve spent all we had,” she said.
“Anything you have to support me, I will appreciate.”
She added: “I’m begging everyone, Nigerians, in diaspora, all over to come to my aid and help me.”
For those willing to support her, the details provided are:
Beneficiary: Egbeyemi Kehinde
Bank: FCMB
Account Number: 4250620013
For enquiries and medical assistance:
Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre: 07068873402
Ugbede’s Husband: 08060688828
For Ugbede, the appeal is not for another transplant but for help to protect the kidney she has already received and enable her to recover sufficiently to return to productive life.
She said every contribution would help her remain on the medication required to preserve her transplanted kidney while she works towards regaining her independence.
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