Professor Olu Akinyanju, OON, is a world-renowned hematologist, clinical geneticist, and the pioneering force behind the modern management of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD) in Nigeria. His lifelong commitment has transformed SCD from a neglected “death sentence” into a manageable condition, offering hope to millions. Academic Excellence and Early Career Born in 1936, Professor Akinyanju’s journey in medicine began at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London, where he graduated in 1963. He later specialized in Internal Medicine and Hematology, earning his MD from the University of London with a landmark thesis on bacterial infections in sickle cell patients—a study that laid the groundwork for his future interventions.
The Birth of a Movement In 1967, upon joining the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Akinyanju was moved by the plight of patients suffering due to misinformation and lack of specialized care. This led him to establish Nigeria’s first dedicated adult Sickle Cell Clinic. In 1994, he founded the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), a non-profit dedicated to advocacy, research, and care. Under his leadership, the iconic National Sickle Cell Centre in Lagos was commissioned in 2007 as the first comprehensive center of its kind in Africa.
Global Impact and National Honors Akinyanju’s influence extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders. He has served as an Honorary Adviser to the World Health Organization (WHO) on Hereditary Haemoglobin Disorders since 1985. His pioneering work includes introducing genetic counseling courses and prenatal diagnosis to Nigeria. In recognition of his immense contributions to healthcare and philanthropy, he was conferred with the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2006 and received the NMA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.
Today, as Chairman of SCFN, Professor Akinyanju continues to lead the charge, recently celebrating the historic milestone of establishing Nigeria’s first state-of-the-art Bone Marrow Transplant Centre—finalizing his vision of making a permanent cure accessible on Nigerian soil.