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“Committee of Friends” -A support system intended to provide solidarity and assistance for one another in times of bereavement , ill health , marital celebrations and sundry activities is gradually becoming a nightmare to the community.
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I don’t know how prevalent this practice is in other communities, but among the Igbo people, a crowdfunding project has become the way to finance virtually all ceremonies and financial challenges of individuals including Hospital bills , both middle and low income people partake
Initially this was really nice as it greatly reduces the burden on the directly affected persons while also ensuring solidarity and communalism among our people. Initially too it was mostly an option for not so having , recently the rich also solicit for the assistance
In fact the rich tend to benefit much more these days as everyone go out of their ways to donate big in order to impress the rich fellow or in the hope that he would churn out funds when it’s their own turn too
The worrisome part is that a lot of abuses are gradually emerging as unscrupulous fellows now take advantage of this beautiful arrangement that was intended to provide support , to rather engage on needless wasteful occasions funded from taxing people
From personal experience, every month I find myself added to at least 50 different Whatsapp fund raising groups , from burials , weddings , health support, birthdays, child naming ceremonies, and everything. Naturally you’re pressured , finding yourself in the group
I spend average of 50k sometimes more every month donating to this group , some people because of their status spend much more . I know a lot of times I do not have funds but because the date of event was at hand I either forgo some more pressing issues or find cash anyhow
Last weekend I was lodging in a hotel in Enugu and I saw an elaborate event with beautiful decor , sumptuous meals and free flowing drinks and beautifully dressed asobi everywhere. I thought it was a wedding but later found out it was a birthday party for a 1 year old baby
I sat among some guests that I knew and made enquired about the event . They said they raised close to 3 million naira for the event in a Whatsapp group . The baby was not the first child , the parents didn’t suffer difficulties in conception, no issues in pregnancy or delivery
They just felt like throwing a lavish party and compelled friends to raise huge funds for one day of consumption orgy and noise pollution. The infant slept all through the party by the ways . She would never have any memories of the event .
I was also told that this couple had much more lavish wedding ceremonies, both traditional and church , of course financed by pressured friends . Tie is sad considering that we are in recession. One would argue that it’s their business but no , I am affected .
If we could crowd fund like this to sponsor enterprises , to fund Start Ups , to finance inventions , if we could crowd fund to create wealth , build big agro businesses, to provide amenities in our neighborhoods, we may as well ignore the government failings
This were what the Igbo did in the olden days . We raised funds to sponsor gifted kids to different schools even sending many abroad , we built our schools , roads , hospitals , we owned cooperative societies that embarked on businesses and created wealth .
This new trend of wastefulness is alien to our culture . It came from Lagos and has to stop . Reorientation is needed vigorously to educate our people on the adverse impact of living frivolously .
