Nigeria has lost one of its most prominent voices in sickle cell advocacy following the passing of Toyin Ibidunni Adesola, the founder of the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) whose lifelong commitment to humanity transformed countless lives within the sickle cell community.
Her passing, announced jointly by the Adesola Family, and SAMI, marks the close of a defining chapter in Nigeria’s campaign for greater awareness, improved healthcare, social inclusion, and support for persons living with sickle cell disorder.
For six decades (Sept. 1, 1965 – May 11, 2026), Toyin Adesola lived with sickle cell, standing stoutly at the forefront of advocacy for sickle cell warriors and their families, devoting her life to public enlightenment, counseling, support initiatives, and policy engagement aimed at improving the quality of life for people living with the condition. Through resilience and compassion, she became one of the most respected and recognizable figures in Nigeria’s healthcare advocacy landscape.
As Founder of SAMI, she built an institution that evolved into a beacon of hope and a safe space for countless families navigating the physical, emotional, and social realities of sickle cell disorder. The organisation became widely known for its awareness campaigns, advocacy programmes, support interventions, and efforts aimed at reducing stigma while promoting genotype education and early detection.
Beyond SAMI, her influence resonated strongly across the broader advocacy community. As the longest-serving Chairman of the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, she played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among advocacy groups and healthcare stakeholders, helping to harmonize a united front on sickle cell issues.
Her extraordinary dedication to the cause earned her admiration across civil society, the medical community, and humanitarian circles, with many affectionately referring to her as the Sickle Cell General, a title that reflected both her courage and her tireless commitment to the struggle for better care and dignity for sickle cell patients.
Associates and members of the advocacy community have continued to pay glowing tributes to her life and legacy, describing her as a compassionate leader, mentor, mobiliser, and a rallying point for the sickle cell community.
In their statement, the Adesola Family and SAMI described her as “a pillar of strength to families battling sickle cell disorder, a source of hope to countless warriors, and a woman whose life embodied service, empathy, and sacrifice.”
The statement added that her enduring legacy would continue to inspire future generations of advocates and humanitarian workers committed to the sickle cell cause. “Though she has departed this world, her voice will continue to resonate through the movement she helped build, the lives she touched, and the hope she gave to thousands.”
Funeral arrangements will be announced by the family in the coming days.
