A health non-profit organisation, Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI), has recognised its volunteers at a 2026 Retreat and Awards Ceremony held in Lagos. The event celebrated sustained purpose, service, compassion, sacrifice, and discipline, bringing together volunteers whose consistent efforts have transformed lives beyond statistical measures. It also provided a moment for reflection while outlining the next phase for the NGO, which was founded by non-profit leader Toyin Adesola in 2008.
N10 Million Crowdfunding Campaign Launched
During the event, a N10 million crowdfunding campaign tagged #1kforSickle was launched to encourage Nigerians to donate a minimum of N1,000 to support the organisation's work. The campaign aims to mobilise resources for sickle cell advocacy and management initiatives across the country.
Award Categories and Honourees
Eleven award categories recognised individuals from diverse fields who have supported SAMI over the years. Honourees included haematologists, medical doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, IT experts, media executives, and young professionals. Their contributions were acknowledged for advancing the mission of the organisation.
Keynote Speakers and Sessions
The event featured four speakers: polymath and founder of Immerse Coaching Company, Debola Deji-Kurunmi; clinical psychologist Sheriff Ajibola Moshobalaje; leadership expert Oluwatoyin Banjo; and co-founder of 9ijakids, Titi Adewusi. Their sessions focused on strengthening awareness of responsibility and impact within the sickle cell community and beyond.
Delivering one of the keynote sessions, Deji-Kurunmi urged volunteers to prioritise personal growth as a basis for wider influence within SAMI, their families, and communities. She introduced the five “empires” of self-leadership: self-mastery, self-direction, self-drive, self-influence, and self-expansion. “It is when you lead yourself well that you can serve others better and advance the mission,” she said. She added that “SAMI is moving forward from being a founder-led NGO to a legacy-led institution,” encouraging volunteers to adopt a creator mindset, contribute ideas, and become more solution-driven.
From a psychological perspective, Moshobalaje addressed the inner life of volunteers, stressing the importance of emotional balance, life satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. He examined the mental health impact of social media and advocated self-awareness and introspection as foundations for resilience and sustainable impact. He said positive mental health includes “emotional, psychological, and social well-being that focuses on how we feel, how we function, and the knowledge that we are separate from our problems.”
Adewusi spoke on team spirit, focusing on trust and credibility in non-profit work. Drawing on practical examples, she encouraged volunteers to embody the organisation’s mission in all aspects of their engagement. She also formally launched the #1kforSickle campaign.
In her address on leadership, Banjo outlined the eight pillars of M.O.B.I.L.I.Z.E., described as “motivate with meaning, orient and onboard, build belonging, invest in them, lead by example, inspire through impact, zoom in on zeal, and empower and entrust.” She urged the organisation’s leadership to strengthen its commitment to developing its volunteer base.
Organisation's Vision and Call to Action
The organisation’s Communication Officer, Abayomi Oyelami, said the retreat aimed to “honour the passion, sacrifice, and invisible work shaping lives in the sickle cell community, as well as to be a space for growth, learning, and renewed purpose.” He added that Nigerians willing to support the #1kforSickle campaign could donate through designated accounts or online platforms provided in official materials.
The event ended with a call for volunteers to deepen their commitment to service, aligning compassion with skill and excellence.
