Former Ambassador battles massive stroke in Canadian hospital as medical bills surpass CAD $205,000
The wife of former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper and former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Adebowale “Debo” Adesina, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene and help save her husband, who is battling the devastating effects of a massive stroke in Canada.
In a deeply personal letter to the President, Mrs. Oluyemisi Debo-Adesina pleaded for urgent assistance to enable the family to sustain the medical treatment of the veteran journalist and diplomat, whose condition remains critical.
Adesina, who travelled to Canada on June 24, 2026, to visit his wife and children, was struck by tragedy just over two weeks later.
On July 9, he suffered a massive stroke and was rushed to hospital, where he has remained under intensive medical care.
According to his wife, the respected journalist spent more than a month in the Intensive Care Unit of Trillium Hospital, Mississauga, from July 9 to August 11, before he was transferred to Etobicoke General Hospital, where he continues to receive treatment.
For the family, the ordeal has been a painful battle between hope and uncertainty.
Mrs. Adesina disclosed that her husband was placed in an induced coma for a prolonged period, but has now begun to gradually emerge.
“By the grace of God, and following a prolonged period in an induced coma, Debo is gradually beginning to emerge from the coma,” she wrote.
She, however, stressed that his condition remains very serious and that he still requires intensive medical attention, constant monitoring and specialised care.
While the family remains hopeful for his recovery, another battle has emerged — the enormous financial cost of keeping him alive.
As of August 24, 2026, the outstanding medical bills had risen above CAD $205,000, with the expenses continuing to accumulate daily.
Mrs. Adesina said the financial burden had become overwhelming and that the hospital had raised concerns about the continuation of his care unless arrangements were made to address the outstanding medical expenses.
It was against this frightening backdrop, she explained, that she was compelled to seek help from President Tinubu.
Appealing to the President not merely as a former public official but as someone who knows her husband personally, Mrs. Adesina reminded Tinubu of the different chapters of Adesina’s life — as a journalist, editor-in-chief, public intellectual, diplomat and colleague.
She described the appeal as one of the most difficult decisions she had ever had to make.
“This is not an easy appeal for me to make,” she wrote, explaining that as a wife and mother, she had been forced to put aside her personal reservations and reach out to those who had known, worked with and respected her husband throughout his years of public service.
She appealed to the President to stand with the family at what she described as an extraordinarily difficult period.
“The financial assistance will help us meet his mounting medical expenses and, most importantly, secure the continued medical care that he urgently needs,” she pleaded.
The former ambassador’s wife said every day of treatment was now precious, with every effort and contribution potentially making a difference in her husband’s fight for survival.
“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 stated.
Beyond the immediate financial crisis, the family’s greatest source of strength remains hope and faith.
Mrs. Adesina said the family continues to trust God for her husband’s recovery while also appealing to the goodwill and compassion of those who have crossed paths with the veteran journalist and diplomat.
She expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his concern and encouragement, while asking for whatever assistance he could provide to help the family navigate the difficult period.
For a man who spent decades serving Nigeria through journalism and diplomacy, the fight has now moved from the newsroom and diplomatic circles to a hospital bed in Canada.
And as his family waits and prays for his recovery, his wife has made a simple but urgent plea: help save her husband.
The family is appealing for urgent financial assistance and support to ensure that Adesina’s medical treatment continues without interruption as he battles his way back to recovery.
