How football friends raised €91,000 for Tijjani Babangida

In December 2024, 4,089 donors raised €91,059 for Tijjani Babangida. This is how the campaign went and what other charities can learn from it.

In December 2024, 4,089 donors raised €91,059 for former footballer Tijjani Babangida, who lost his brother and his young son in a car accident in Nigeria in May 2024. Football friends from VVV-Venlo, Roda JC and Ajax started the campaign on WeGlow.world. Here is what happened and what other charities can learn from it.

What happened?

In early May 2024, Tijjani Babangida, a former Ajax winger among other clubs, was seriously injured in a car accident in Nigeria (Voetbal International). His brother Ibrahim, a former FC Volendam player, died, as did his young son; his wife was seriously injured (NOS).

In December 2024, former teammates started a crowdfunding campaign for the costs of surgery and rehabilitation, NOS reported on 10 December 2024. The campaign ran on WeGlow.world, according to a report by Ajax.nl of 12 December 2024. Ajax, Roda JC and VVV-Venlo drew attention to the campaign at home matches.

How did the campaign go?

The campaign raised €91,059 from 4,089 donors in one month. These figures are as they appear in the original WeGlow.world story, not recalculated.

  • Average gift: €22, small on its own but a lot together
  • Period: December 2024, one month
  • Purpose: the costs of surgery and rehabilitation for Tijjani Babangida and his wife

Why did the campaign work?

Four things came together: well-known names, a concrete story, a low threshold and visibility.

  • Well-known names: Ajax, Roda JC and VVV-Venlo drew attention to the campaign at home matches (NOS).
  • One concrete story: donors knew who they were giving to and why.
  • Easy giving: in a few clicks, without an account, also on a mobile phone.
  • Visibility: every donation lights up as a candle on the WeGlow world map.

What can other charities learn?

Choose a story about one person, find someone with reach to go first and make sharing easy. Four lessons:

Success factorWhat this means for your campaign
Ambassadors with reachActivate well-known faces or loyal supporters as first donors
One concrete storyTell the story of one person or situation, not a general mission
Right timingLaunch around a moment that touches people, such as the holidays
Easy sharingA WeGlow page has a share button with Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and a copy link

Does your organisation also have a story that deserves to be heard? Register your organisation on WeGlow.world or get in touch.

Frequently asked questions

How does a crowdfunding campaign on WeGlow work?

An organisation creates a campaign page on WeGlow.world with a story, sets a goal and shares the link. Donors give directly via the page and their contribution appears as a virtual candle on the interactive world map.

Does it cost anything to start a campaign?

WeGlow.world has a free plan and charges a 5% platform fee per donation, which donors can cover so that 100% reaches the organisation. The Pro plan costs €40 a month or €400 a year, excluding VAT.

Can I help raise money as a supporter?

Yes. At organisations on WeGlow.world, supporters can start their own action page for a campaign or event, with a title, story, photos and a target amount. You can share it by link, WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn or e-mail. An organisation can approve new actions first.

Who is WeGlow for?

WeGlow.world is made for organisations such as foundations and associations, which set up campaigns, fundraisers and events on it. Campaigns therefore run through an organisation. Individuals help by starting their own action page as a supporter for an organisation's campaign or event.

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