Toyin Adesola, Founder of SAMI and Renowned Sickle Cell Advocate, Dies at 60

Toyin Adesola, Founder of SAMI and Renowned Sickle Cell Advocate, Dies at 60

Nigeria’s healthcare advocacy community has been thrown into mourning following the death of renowned sickle cell advocate and founder of the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), Toyin Ibidunni Adesola.

Adesola, fondly known as the “Sickle Cell General,” passed away on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the age of 60 after a lifetime devoted to supporting persons living with sickle cell disorder and championing awareness across Nigeria.

Her passing was jointly announced by the Adesola family and SAMI in a statement that described her as a compassionate humanitarian whose life was defined by service, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the sickle cell community.

Born on September 1, 1965, Adesola lived with sickle cell disorder for six decades and emerged as one of Nigeria’s most influential voices in advocacy for sickle cell warriors and their families. Through public enlightenment campaigns, counseling programmes, policy engagement, and support initiatives, she consistently pushed for improved healthcare, social inclusion, genotype education, and better quality of life for people living with the condition.

As founder of SAMI, Adesola established an organisation that became a major support platform for families affected by sickle cell disorder. Over the years, the initiative gained recognition for its awareness campaigns, advocacy programmes, early detection efforts, and initiatives aimed at reducing stigma surrounding the condition.

Beyond her work with SAMI, Adesola also served as the longest-serving Chairman of the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs, where she played a significant role in uniting advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in the fight against sickle cell disorder in Nigeria.

Her commitment and resilience earned her admiration within the medical, humanitarian, and civil society communities, with many describing her as a mentor, mobiliser, and beacon of hope for thousands of sickle cell patients nationwide.

In the statement announcing her passing, the 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.”

They added that her 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,” the statement read.

Funeral arrangements, according to the family, will be announced in the coming days.