Hammed, 36, finished a Master’s programme in Business and Management only months before his passing. Friends and supporters revealed that his health declined rapidly in the weeks leading up to his death, following a battle with advanced cancer.
His story came to public attention through a GoFundMe campaign created by Mariam Ajibola and Mohammed Chaanda. What began as an effort to support his medical care later became an appeal to cover his burial expenses after it became clear that his condition was worsening.
Originally from Ayete in Oyo State and raised in Lagos, Hammed relocated to the UK in September to further his education. Despite receiving a life-altering diagnosis earlier in the year, he remained determined to complete his degree, pushing through severe physical strain to meet his academic goals.
Those who knew him described him as the youngest of four children and “the joyful heart of his home.” They remembered his kindness, optimism, and willingness to help others, traits that endeared him to classmates and community members alike.
As his health deteriorated, efforts were made to return him to Nigeria so he could spend his final days with family. However, doctors advised that he was too unwell to undertake the journey, leaving the community to rally around him in the UK.
The organisers of the GoFundMe campaign sought approximately £5,000 for a 50-year burial plot and a coffin. Contributions surpassed £6,000 before donations were paused, ensuring that he would receive a dignified burial.
Hammed’s passing follows the recent discovery of another Nigerian, Chiowa Obeigbe, found dead in his Gloucester apartment. The two incidents highlight the complex and often difficult experiences many Nigerians face while trying to build new lives abroad.
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