As Nigeria joined the global community to mark World Sickle Cell Day on Thursday, medical experts disclosed that about 50 million Nigerians carry the sickle cell trait. The figure was presented at a seminar held in Ilorin, Kwara State, organised by the Building Hope for Sickle Cell Foundation.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, in a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr. Ajao Kasali, said that Nigeria bears the world’s highest burden of the disorder, both in terms of carriers and affected individuals. She noted that around 2–3% of the country’s population lives with sickle cell disease (SCD), with approximately 150,000 newborns affected annually.

In Kwara State, she said, hospital data shows a 16.3% prevalence rate of SCD among children admitted to Emergency Pediatric Units—significantly higher than the 2.1% recorded in Niger State. A separate study in Irepodun Local Government Area found that 2.3% of residents have SCD, while 25% of adults there are carriers of the gene.

El-Imam described sickle cell disease as a major public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries across sub-Saharan Africa. She said between 50% and 90% of children born with the condition in these regions do not survive beyond age five. In Africa, she added, SCD accounts for 20% of neonatal deaths and 5% of all deaths among children under five.

To address the challenge, she said the Kwara State Government offers free health services for people with SCD under its health insurance programme. She also highlighted the inclusion of disease-specific vaccinations and nutritional support aimed at reducing complications for individuals living with the condition.

Speakers at the seminar stressed the importance of early diagnosis, premarital screening, and awareness campaigns. Ajila Oladimeji-Kamar, CEO of the host foundation, and Alhaji Kadir Obasola-Jimoh, chairman of its board of trustees, both urged more public education on the need for genetic compatibility checks before marriage.

Obasola-Jimoh, who said he has lived with SCD for over 60 years, used his experience to dispel misconceptions about the disease. “Being a carrier or even having sickle cell does not mean your life is over,” he said. “I retired from the Central Bank of Nigeria as a chartered accountant. I’m healthy and living well in my sixties.”

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Dele Shittu Foundation, Toyeeb Lawal, announced plans to provide free health screenings for up to 1,000 people in the state this weekend as part of efforts to promote early detection and awareness.