A Nigerian social media user has ignited a fresh conversation about accountability and transparency in the non-profit sector after publicly disclosing the financial details of a popular activist's organisation.
Real-Time NGO Finances Laid Bare
Anita Chinwe Ihebinike, a fan of controversial online commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, took to Facebook to share a screenshot of the real-time statement of account for his NGO, the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative.
The screenshot, reportedly obtained from the NGO's dedicated website, revealed detailed financial transactions. According to the data shared, the NGO has received total donations amounting to N377,923,178. From this sum, expenditures of N112,094,360 have been recorded, leaving a current balance of N265,828,818 in the account.
A Pointed Comparison and a Challenge
In her post, Ihebinike did not merely present the figures. She used the opportunity to throw a pointed shade at another well-known activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who has also been involved in fundraising through his own NGO efforts.
"Is it not strange that in all of these, nobody has asked Harrison how much he has raised in total through his NGO?" she questioned. She contrasted this with the constant public demands for VeryDarkMan to account for his NGO's funds, despite the transparency he has shown by making the financial data publicly accessible online.
She concluded her post with a bold challenge to other NGOs: "If e sure for those other NGO bandits, let them show us their own. There are levels to these things."
Background and Public Reaction
VeryDarkMan launched his NGO in October 2024, focusing on community development and equipping public schools. A key promise from the outset was transparency, leading to the creation of a website that displays donations, expenses, and balances in real time.
The lady's post quickly attracted significant attention and mixed reactions from netizens:
- Chika Favor commented: "Dey play nah, their eyes go clear."
- meg official channel noted: "It's really interesting to see the transparency in some NGOs while others lack it, this shows a lot about accountability and honesty."
- Ed'gardo Ed'james offered a philosophical take: "It's simple, people don't look for fault in what's already faulty. I hope you get the point now."
- Martha Robinson Nwaije critiqued the selective nature of public scrutiny: "Don't mind Nigerians once you speak calmly and you are handsome fair in complexion you hardly go wrong in their eyes... They only require accountability once they hate you."
- Ojo-kolawole Segbeyon Adenike predicted further skepticism: "Wait for them to start asking him to explain how he spent the debits. Dem fit say the debits na for him personal use."
This incident is not the first public check on the NGO's finances. Legit.ng had previously reported that a Germany-based man named Kelechi had also demonstrated the account's transparency by sending N2,000 to it and confirming the updated balance on the website, which at that time showed over N241 million.
The action by Anita Chinwe Ihebinike has successfully shifted the discourse, pushing the demand for accountability beyond a single individual and questioning the financial transparency of all public-facing NGOs operated by social media activists.
