Clarion Call Care Foundation announces 3rd Annual Living Donor Day Nigeria

Dr. Obi Ekwenna

ADEBOWALE MUYIWA EMMANUEL 

The Clarion Call Care Foundation is proud has announced the Third Annual Living Donor Day Nigeria, taking place on April 10, 2025 in Lagos.

This year’s commemoration is especially significant—it marks 25 years since Nigeria’s first successful kidney transplant, a milestone that invites the nation to reflect on its journey, recognize its heroes, and reimagine what’s possible for the future of transplantation.

On March 6, 2000, the transplant team at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, led by Dr. Ebun Bamgboye, Pioneer Transplant Nephrologist, performed Nigeria’s first successful kidney transplant. Their bold step sparked a quiet revolution—laying the foundation for what would become a growing, if still limited, transplant ecosystem built through resilience, innovation, and human generosity.

Living Donor Day Nigeria was established in 2023 to uplift the stories of living donors and bring awareness to the life-changing impact of kidney transplantation. From the premiere of “Along Came Hope” to the launch of “Priceless”, the event has grown into a movement grounded in compassion and national purpose.

Now in its third year, Living Donor Day 2025 arrives as a moment of real transition—from commemoration to capacity-building.

One of the most anticipated highlights of this year’s celebration will be the official dissemination of the Nigerian Transplantation Guidelines by Professor Philip Abiodun, Chairman of the National Tertiary Health Institution Standard Committee (NTHISC). These newly released national guidelines represent a critical step forward—Nigeria’s first policy framework to guide transplant practice, uphold ethical standards, and enhance the safety and protection of living donors.

This landmark release sets a new direction. It establishes the structural groundwork for a more regulated transplant system and opens the door for future reforms—including the eventual development of national registries and deceased donor programs.

The 2025 Living Donor Day will feature:
• A national tribute to living kidney donors and transplant pioneers who have shaped the story of transplantation in Nigeria
• The official release of the Nigerian Transplantation Guidelines, marking a transformative policy milestone
• Insightful panel discussions reflecting on 25 years of transplant history and envisioning future progress
• A call to action to promote organ donation, protect living donors, and continue strengthening Nigeria’s transplant framework

“I didn’t save a life—I gave someone the chance to live it again.” – A Living Kidney Donor, Lagos

Emphasizing the significance of this year’s event, Dr. Obi Ekwenna, a Professor of Transplantation and Urology at the University of Toledo, Ohio, USA and the Board Chairman of the Clarion Call Care Foundation, remarked:

“A thriving organ transplant ecosystem is not just a medical breakthrough for organ failure—it is an economic and social imperative as the most productive citizens are most affected by end-organ disease. Investing in transplantation infrastructure, donor support, and public awareness will save lives, reduce medical tourism, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare industry. Living Donor Day is not just an event; it is critical to ensure that organ transplantation is accessible and sustainable for future generations. Without of donor there is no transplant.”

Living Donor Day is a clarion call to the nation—to honor the lifesavers among us, to prioritize donor protection, and to continue building the systems needed to support Nigeria’s transplant future.