The TolaOluwa Foundation has said sorry for a fundraising appeal it made after the death of Nigerian gospel singer, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, who was known as Toluwanisings. They admitted that the timing of the appeal was not right and it upset the family and others who were mourning him.
In a statement shared on Instagram on Friday, the foundation explained that the appeal aimed to support the late singer’s wife and children. They agreed that they should have been more careful before making the request public.
“Our intention was to offer support to his wife and children. However, we recognise that posting an appeal so soon after his passing was insensitive and caused distress at a time when his family, friends and community are grieving,” the statement said.
The foundation confessed that they should have thought more about the timing and effects of the appeal. They should have waited for permission from the right people before publishing it.
“We should have considered the timing and impact of our actions more carefully, and awaited approval from the necessary parties,” the foundation added.
The fundraising appeal also raised doubts about its legitimacy, leading the foundation to address worries about its operations and status. They insisted that they are a registered charity with the Corporate Affairs Commission and have a history of helping people in need.
“We also understand that the post raised concerns about the legitimacy of the appeal. We have a track record of offering help to those in need as a registered charity with the Corporate Affairs Commission,” they said.
Even though they defended their past work, the foundation recognised that it did not excuse their handling of the appeal after the singer’s death. They took responsibility for the way they communicated this time.
“Nonetheless, we take responsibility for how we communicated on this occasion,” the statement added.
The foundation also shared that they had spoken to the relevant parties and sorted out the issue. They promised to respect the family’s privacy and give them space to mourn.
“We have been in contact with the necessary parties and have resolved the issue. Our priority now is to respect the family’s privacy and give them space to grieve,” they stated.
They promised to take a different approach for any future fundraising efforts related to the family. They said that such efforts would follow the family’s wishes and include clear information on how donations would be handled.
“Any future support initiative we share will be guided by the family’s wishes, with clear communication about how any funds would be managed,” the foundation said.
They apologised to the singer’s family, friends, and everyone who was hurt by the appeal. They thanked those who raised concerns about the post.
“To his family, loved ones and everyone hurt by the previous post, we are truly sorry. Thank you to those who expressed their concerns and held us accountable in love,” it stated.
The statement ended with a request for respect for the late singer’s memory, saying, “May his memory be honoured with love, dignity and respect.”
PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Bolaji's family announced his death in a statement on the singer’s TikTok account on Wednesday. They said the gospel minister died in the early hours of October 14, 2026, describing him as “a dearly loved husband, family member, and gospel minister.”
“With deep sorrow, the family announces the passing of Minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, Toluwani Gospel Music Ministry (TOGOMM), who passed away in the early hours of 14 October 2026,” the statement said.
The family also asked fans, colleagues, and well-wishers to keep his wife, relatives, and loved ones in their prayers during this tough time. They mentioned that details of the funeral arrangements would be shared later.
The singer’s death led to a flood of grief and tributes on social media, with fans and colleagues expressing sadness over his passing.
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