Oluyemisi Debo-Adesina, wife of a former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian and former Ambassador to Togo, Debo Adesina, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu for financial help to ease the burden of medical expenses incurred following the veteran journalist’s recent stroke ordeal and to support his full recovery.
Mrs Debo-Adesina’s appeal is contained in a letter on Sunday titled, “Urgent Appeal for Support for H.E Adebowale (Debo) Adesina, Former Nigerian Ambassador To Togo,”addressed to Mr Tinubu.
She said the former envoy suffered a stroke on July 9 and remained hospitalised barely 15 days after arriving in Canada to visit her and their children.
The wife of the former Nigerian ambassador stated that her husband was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Trillium Hospital, Mississauga, from July 9 to August 11, and was later transferred to Etobicoke General Hospital, where he has remained under medical care.Mrs Debo-Adesina stated, “By the grace of God, and following a prolonged period in an induced coma, Debo is gradually beginning to emerge from the coma.
“His condition, however, remains very serious, and he continues to require intensive medical attention, monitoring and care. We remain hopeful and prayerful for his full recovery.
“She appealed to Mr Tinubu to assist the family to settle Mr Adesina’s accumulated medical bills, which according to her, had exceeded CAD $205,000 as of August 24, with the debt rising daily.
“This prolonged hospitalization has placed an enormous and rapidly increasing financial burden on our family. As of the 24th of August 2026, the outstanding medical bills had exceeded CAD $205,000, and the expenses continue to accumulate every day,” Mrs Debo-Adesina said.
“The situation has become even more distressing as we have been informed that the hospital has raised concerns about the continuation of his care unless arrangements are made towards the outstanding medical expenses,” she said.
She pleaded with Mr Tinubu to stand with the veteran journalist and his distressed family, describing the current phase of the journalist’s life as “deeply painful” and “vulnerable moment”.
“It is against this deeply painful background that I am reaching out personally to you, Mr President, because you know Debo in different capacities-as a journalist and Editor-in-Chief, a public intellectual, a diplomat, an aburo, and as someone with whom you have shared a relationship over the years,” she said.
According to her, the president’s financial assistance will help the family meet the mounting medical expenses and secure the continued medical care needed.
“I would be deeply grateful if you could kindly contact me directly for details on how any contribution or assistance may be provided,” she said.
“Your Excellency, this is not an easy appeal for me to make. As a wife and mother, I have had to put aside my personal reservations and reach out to the people who have known, worked with, respected and interacted with my husband throughout the different chapters of his life and service.
“At a time when every effort counts, every contribution matters, and every day of medical care is precious, I am appealing to you in the hope that your compassion and intervention will help us through this extraordinarily difficult period,” she added.
Mrs Debo-Adesina, who said the family would continue to trust in God for the ex- ambassador’s full recovery, pleaded for compassion, goodwill and generosity needed to ease the family’s financial burden.