The formation of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria was preceded by the formation of Sickle Cell Clubs and the Federation of Sickle Cell Clubs of Nigeria. The Sickle Cell Clubs are patient/parent support associations, which are inherently unsuited to addressing other important issues in sickle cell disorder control, such as, research and training of health care personnel in a sustained manner. The Sickle Cell Foundation was established to fulfill this important role.
It was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in November 1994 The Foundation is established for charitable purposes only and it is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the proper care and control of sickle cell and other related disorders in Nigeria.

The idea of developing a Sickle Cell Centre in Nigeria was promoted by the Sickle Cell Club Lagos Nigeria. The club is a non governmental non - profit making organization established in 1984 as a patient/parent support group with the primary aim of helping persons who have sickle cell disorder, through proper information, medical and social care, live as normally as possible and of reducing as much as is humanely possible, the incidence of the disorders in our country.