Nigerian music executive Michael Collins Ajereh, professionally known as Don Jazzy, on Saturday publicly responded to and rebutted social media users who criticized and disparaged a young woman identified on X (formerly Twitter) as Itohan Supremos Baby, with the handle @itohan_olat, following a private financial donation made by him in her favor.
The criticism arose subsequent to Don Jazzy’s decision to support Itohan’s stated initiative to provide assistance to individuals facing health-related challenges. Following the disclosure of the donation, certain users characterized her as “greedy” and alleged that her request constituted a scam.
The backlash intensified after confirmation that funds had been disbursed, prompting Don Jazzy to directly respond to a user identified as @maxvayshia, who asserted that the donation amounted to encouragement of inappropriate behavior and questioned the beneficiary’s entitlement to the funds.
In response, Don Jazzy rejected claims that his philanthropic actions were gender-biased, stating that the beneficiary had committed no wrongdoing. He explained that upon requesting her wish, she expressed an intention to assist others, which aligned with his personal inclination to support charitable causes when feasible.
He further clarified that he initiated private communication with Itohan to shield her from prolonged public scrutiny and to ensure that he did not create false expectations or abandon a commitment already implied. He emphasized that she bore no obligation to provide public explanations, noting that she does not occupy any public or governmental office.
Providing additional context, Don Jazzy referenced his prior donation of ₦20 million in November to the Tech Access Project, an initiative spearheaded by Ayilola Ayotomiwa and designed to equip 10,000 youths with laptops. He questioned why the current controversy was framed differently, asking whether prior beneficiaries had similarly been subjected to public criticism.
The controversy originated on December 11, when Itohan publicly expressed a wish that Don Jazzy would inquire about her needs for Christmas. Don Jazzy subsequently invited her to state her request, citing her consistent engagement with his social media content.
In her response, Itohan requested assistance with settling personal debts and establishing the “Mercy Foundation,” an initiative aimed at subsidizing dialysis treatment for kidney patients, a cause she attributed to the death of her brother from kidney disease. Her request sparked widespread criticism from social media users, who urged Don Jazzy to disregard it.
Despite the backlash, Don Jazzy proceeded to make a substantial private donation. Itohan later shared evidence of the transaction in the form of a receipt displaying six zeros, with key figures obscured, indicating that the amount ranged from several hundred thousand to multiple millions of naira, though no precise figure was publicly stated.
Addressing continued allegations of entitlement, Don Jazzy criticized individuals who, while seeking assistance themselves, condemned others for receiving support. He reiterated that his resources are limited and that he is unable to meet every request for financial aid, noting that perceived entitlement is one of the reasons he has refrained from establishing a formal non-governmental organization.
He further clarified that backlash against beneficiaries is not unique to the present case, stating that any individual who receives publicized assistance would likely face similar scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Itohan publicly expressed gratitude for the donation and outlined its application toward assisting dialysis patients. She confirmed that funds had been disbursed directly to hospital accounts and disclosed that, to date, a total of ₦350,000 had been utilized to support two patients requiring regular dialysis treatment.
Both beneficiaries publicly acknowledged Don Jazzy’s contribution, while Itohan affirmed her intention to continue providing assistance within her capacity.#newsafro_
