Miss Universe Nigeria Finalist Ufa Dania Yet to Receive Funds Raised for South Africa Trip

By Iyojo Ameh

Miss Universe Nigeria finalist, Ufa Dania, has raised concerns over not receiving the funds raised for her planned trip to South Africa.
A BackaBuddy fundraising campaign was launched last year by her fans, aiming to raise R100,000 for her visit after she gained popularity among South African supporters. However, only R8,800 was collected.
In a recent TikTok video, Dania revealed that despite multiple attempts to reach the campaign organizer, Reginald Mathule Kanyane, she has not received the money.
“A man by the name of Reggie contacted me after the pageantry, talking about raising funds to get me to South Africa, and I agreed to do it. He assured me the money wouldn’t just disappear and that it would actually be used to get me to South Africa,” she said.
Given the shortfall in funds, Dania proposed that the money be donated to her foundation instead. However, Kanyane responded that he needed to consult the donors before making any decisions.

In a WhatsApp exchange, Kanyane reportedly reassured Dania:
“Best believe I will send you what’s due to you. I am not one who steals or moves with people’s money at all. Now, I am operating on a high level of stress, but it should be done in two weeks.”
Despite this assurance, Dania said she has yet to receive any money.
After weeks of waiting, Dania reached out again, and Kanyane requested her bank details and a bank statement to verify her account ownership. However, when she asked for his full name and address for official documentation, he stopped responding.
Since February, Dania has had no communication from Kanyane and remains uncertain about the funds’ status.
“I don’t know where the money is, I don’t have access to it. I just want to ensure that he actually refunds the people who donated since the cause was to get me to South Africa. I’m not personally talking to him because I feel like the back and forth is too much,” she said.

Dania’s situation has sparked concerns over transparency in crowdfunding campaigns, with supporters urging accountability for the funds raised in her name.