the Executive Director of Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative SAMI
The true test of a non-profit organisation’s impact is not only marked while its founding champions are alive, but by the capacity to preserve the vision, sustain programmes and deepen influence after they are gone. For the Sickle Cell Advocacy and Management Initiative (SAMI) founded in 2008, the appointment of Maureen N. Nwachi as Executive Director represents more than a change of leadership. It signals a defining moment for an organisation navigating the delicate intersection of legacy, institutional continuity and the urgent need to continue supporting people living with sickle cell disease.
The new chief executive, Nwachi inherits an organisation whose advocacy has been shaped by nearly two decades of commitment to the sickle cell community at the aftermath of the passing of the Founder, Oluwatoyin Ibidunni Adesola on May 11, 2026. Her immediate task is therefore twofold: to preserve the values that sustained SAMI under Adesola’s leadership and to build the institutional capacity required to respond to emerging healthcare challenges.
In her inaugural address, Maureen Nwachi acknowledged the weight of that responsibility, expressing gratitude to the Board, the late Adesola’s family, partners, donors and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in her. “My appointment by the Board, and the wholehearted acceptance and support of Toyin Adesola’s family, carries profound meaning for me. It represents trust. It represents continuity. And it represents a collective willingness to ensure that the work continues,” she said.
She added that the best way to honour a life devoted to service was not simply to celebrate past achievements but to ensure that the mission endured.She called for a renewed collective commitment to the organisation’s mission. “This is not merely the beginning of a new appointment. It is the beginning of a new chapter in a story that has been unfolding for nearly two decades,” she said.
Nwachi observed that the changing realities of healthcare delivery, technology, funding and community expectations require the organisation to reassess how it delivers its services without compromising its mission. “Our next chapter will be characterised by stronger systems, evidence-driven programmes, strategic partnerships, sustainable financing, better use of data and technology, stronger advocacy, and a deeper commitment to measurable impact.”
To existing partners, she expressed appreciation for their contributions and invited them to participate in the organisation’s next phase with renewed purpose, while extending an invitation to prospective partners as she stressed that there was room for new organisations and individuals willing to contribute to the cause. She called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, healthcare professionals, researchers, academics, development partners, foundations, corporate organisations, philanthropists, families and people living with sickle cell disease. “Thank you for your trust, your partnership and your continued belief in the work,” she expressed.
Nwachi’s appointment comes with a strong combination of corporate experience, programme management expertise and personal involvement in sickle cell advocacy. With more than 15 years of professional experience spanning human resources, project management, client relations, marketing, administration and executive oversight, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the leadership of an organisation whose work requires both operational efficiency and a deep understanding of the lived realities of people with the condition.
Her professional journey began in client relations, marketing and administrative support, with experience at organisations including MTN, Airtel Nigeria and Dana Group. She subsequently moved into programme management, human resources and executive leadership, developing an interest in strengthening people and processes through effective systems. She also serves as Health Services Manager at Northside Healthcare, a specialist health management facility, and co-established 3Via Consult, a human resources and financial services firm, where she works as Lead Recruitment Consultant. These roles have further expanded her experience in service delivery, organisational management and professional development.
However, Nwachi’s connection to SAMI and the wider sickle cell community extends beyond her professional qualifications. Her advocacy journey began in 2014 with the creation of her blog, Sickle-Strength, following the publication of her personal health story on the blog of Dr Malik Haruna King. What began as an avenue for sharing personal experiences developed into a platform for advocacy, public education and engagement with people navigating life with sickle cell disease.
That journey eventually brought her into the leadership structure of SAMI, where she served as Operations and Programmes Director, overseeing organisational activities and driving projects before her elevation to the position of Executive Director. Her experience also extends to national and continental advocacy. She was the first and immediate past Secretary of the Coalition of Sickle Cell NGOs in Nigeria and represented Nigeria as Regional Coordinator for the African Congress on Sickle Cell Disease (ACSCD). Through interviews and contributions to media organisations, including the BBC, TVC, Arise TV, NTA, Punch and Vanguard, as well as indigenous radio stations and online platforms, she has helped broaden public conversations about sickle cell disease and the experiences of those living with it.
A graduate of biotechnology who has lived with sickle cell disease for more than four decades, Maureen Nwachi brings to her new role an understanding shaped by both professional engagement and personal experience. Her memoir, Diary of a Beautifully Flawed Queen, documents aspects of her life journey and reinforces her message of self-acceptance, resilience and the importance of seeing people beyond their medical conditions. Her personal philosophy, captured in the declaration, “You are First Human before Anything Else,” reflects a central concern of contemporary sickle cell advocacy: that people must not be reduced to diagnoses, stereotypes or assumptions about their capabilities. Rather, they deserve dignity, empathy, appropriate healthcare and opportunities to participate fully in society.
Under her leadership, SAMI now faces the task of ensuring that the legacy of its late Founder remains not merely a memory to be celebrated, but a mission continually renewed through service, advocacy and measurable impact.