Former Guardian Editor-in-Chief Debo Adesina in Coma After Massive Stroke, Medical Bills Hit CAD$205,000

Veteran Nigerian journalist and former Ambassador to Togo, Adebowale “Debo” Adesina, is critically ill in a Canadian hospital after suffering a massive stroke in July.

Adesina, a former Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper, has been hospitalised in Canada since July 9, following the medical emergency he suffered while visiting his children.

His wife, Oluyemisi Debo-Adesina, in an urgent appeal for financial assistance, said her husband had travelled to Canada on June 24 but suffered the stroke about two weeks later.

According to her, Adesina spent more than a month in the Intensive Care Unit between July 9 and August 11 before being transferred to a general hospital, where he remains under medical care.

She said the veteran journalist had also spent a prolonged period in an induced coma but was gradually beginning to regain consciousness.

“By God’s grace, and after a prolonged period in an induced coma, Debo is gradually beginning to come out of the coma,” she said, while stressing that his condition remains very serious.

The prolonged hospitalisation has, however, created a huge financial burden for the family.

Mrs Adesina said the outstanding medical bills had exceeded CAD$205,000 as of August 24, 2026, with the expenses continuing to rise.

She added that the hospital had raised concerns about the continuation of his care unless arrangements were made towards settling the outstanding medical expenses.

Against this backdrop, the family is appealing to friends, colleagues, former associates and members of the public to support the former diplomat’s treatment.

The appeal noted that Adesina had, over the years, been known in different capacities as a journalist, editor-in-chief, public intellectual, diplomat, colleague, friend and professional associate.

“At this particularly vulnerable moment in his life, I am humbly asking you to stand with him and with our family,” his wife said.

She appealed for financial contributions of any amount, stressing that such assistance would help the family meet the mounting medical expenses and secure the continued care that he urgently requires.

She also appealed to well-wishers to share the request with others who may be willing to assist.

“This is not an easy appeal for me to make. But at a time when every effort counts and every day of medical care matters, I have had to put aside my personal reservations and reach out to the people who have known, worked with and interacted with my husband over the years,” she said.

The family expressed hope for his recovery and thanked friends, colleagues and others for their prayers, encouragement and support.

Adesina had a long career in journalism and rose through several editorial positions at The Guardian before eventually becoming the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief.

Following his retirement from the newspaper, he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Togo by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Policy and Politics, Etim Etim, who said he joined The Guardian around the same period as Adesina, also appealed to Nigerians to come to the veteran journalist’s aid.

Etim recalled Adesina’s long service to The Guardian, noting that while he later left journalism for careers in public relations and banking, Adesina remained with the newspaper and rose to the position of Editor-in-Chief.

He subsequently served Nigeria as ambassador to Togo.

The family has provided the following contacts for those wishing to offer assistance:

Oluyemisi Debo-Adesina

Tel: +1 (365) 341-2173

Email: yemisideboadesina@gmail.com