The Philadelphia chapter of the Black Students Union (BSU) has initiated a $25,000 fundraising campaign to support the burial of a Nigerian man, Olatunji Bolaji, who was tragically killed while working as a rideshare driver in the United States.
Olatunji Bolaji, a 77-year-old husband, father, and grandfather, was shot dead on Tuesday, April 16, 2025, in Centre City, Philadelphia. The elderly Nigerian, known for his dedication to his job, was waiting to pick up a passenger outside Byblos Hookah Lounge when he was caught in a violent incident that had nothing to do with him.
Witness accounts say two men exited a dark-coloured Jeep Grand Cherokee and began shooting. Bolaji was hit at the back of the head and managed to drive a short distance before crashing a block away on Chestnut Street. He died from the gunshot wound. The suspects remain unidentified and at large as of the time of this report.
The heartbreaking news has drawn sympathy from many quarters, especially among Black and African communities in the U.S. In response, the Black Students Union in Philadelphia, led by its chapter president, Alex Morris, launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Bolaji’s funeral and to support his grieving family.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the senseless killing of Mr. Olatunji Bolaji,” the fundraiser’s message stated. “He was not just a rideshare driver. He was a loving husband, a caring father, and a doting grandfather who was taken away from his family while trying to earn a living.”
As of Monday, the campaign had raised only $1,712 from 19 donors—far from the $25,000 target. The BSU president explained that the funds are intended to help the family cover several urgent expenses. This includes $12,000 for funeral arrangements and memorial services, $5,000 to support the family’s living costs during this difficult period, and $3,000 to offer professional counselling services for members of the family.
Morris also noted that any money raised beyond the initial needs will be used to set up a trust fund for Bolaji’s grandchildren, including one yet to be born.
To ensure accountability, Morris assured that all donations will go directly to the bank account of Mr. Bolaji’s widow, Charice Bolaji. In the event that she is unable to receive the funds directly, Morris pledged to deliver the money in person, with all necessary documentation and receipts provided for transparency.
“Ola, as he was fondly called, spent his days helping others get home safely,” Morris wrote in the campaign appeal. “Now it’s our turn to help bring comfort to his family in their time of sorrow. Every donation, no matter how small, counts. Whether it’s $5 or $500, it goes a long way.”
He urged members of the public to support the campaign, spread the word, and keep the Bolaji family in their thoughts and prayers. The family, now left to mourn a man who simply went out to earn a living and never returned, hopes that the kindness of strangers and the strength of community will help them through this painful period.
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