Hello Everyone,

My name is Tolani.

I am the 2nd of 3 children that my mother had, and I am fundraising for our dear late mother's funeral. I never believed I would have to write these words so soon!

Some time last year, my beautiful mother and lawyer, Donna Wayas, travelled to Nigeria to bury my grandad, the late Joseph Wayas, the former Senate President.

Unfortunately, in a tragic turn of events, my mother had been looking to return to the UK but suddenly passed away. I received the devastating phone call about her passing on my way home to my daughter.

My world has been rocked and stopped. Immediate anxiety hit me as I am a single parent to my daughter, responsible for my eldest sister, who has learning disabilities and my youngest brother. Consequently, in addition to the grief we now face of losing our primary parent, the weight of the responsibility of organising her funeral, repatriating her body back to the UK, as well as the financial overload of caring for my siblings as well as my daughter, is extremely overwhelming.

Unfortunately, due to work, my daughter’s school and financial constraints, and my sisters disabilities we’re not in a position to go to Nigeria. Moreover, my mother would have wanted to be buried here near our grandmother, who also passed and have somewhere, where we and her loved ones could also grieve. Therefore, we are asking for everyone’s help to raise £35,000 to cover the cost of all the documentation, repatriation, funeral costs, the funeral home, memorial service, and to resolve all her left behind belongings; and for support (both financial and psychological) for the grieving family she left behind during this extremely catastrophic time. We are finding it very hard to keep it together, but we’re doing our best the way we know our mum would want us to, by God’s Grace.

Our mother loved life, music and people. She was always willing to lend a helping hand in her need. She loved people and struggled. She would even share the last clothes on her back to make sure someone was clothed and fed. Our dearest mother steadfastly kept her faith in God, and her love for us was strong. She was incredibly strong, and I only hope that we can do her really proud now, where it really counts!

We still need to know the full information about where her body is so that we can repatriate her safely. We haven’t received any real monetary support to get the ball rolling fully, so this would be incredibly helpful.

Please help us get our mother home and give her a befitting send-off so she can rest well…! We are aiming to have her buried by the 30th of September 2025. In the interim, Rest in Power, mum!

We appreciate your help! Thank you all!

Yours faithfully,

Tolani, Abi & Michael xx