NGO to host third annual living donor day in Lagos

The Clarion Call Care Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has announced its third annual Living Donor Day Nigeria, which will take place on April 10 in Lagos.

In a statement on Saturday, the foundation said this year’s event coincides with the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s first successful kidney transplant, carried out on March 6, 2000, at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, by a team led by Ebun Bamgboye, a pioneer transplant nephrologist.

Established in 2023, Living Donor Day aims to raise awareness about the role of living donors and highlight the impact of kidney transplantation in Nigeria.

The 2025 edition, the foundation said, will move beyond commemoration to focus on building transplant capacity in the country.

A major highlight of the event will be the official release of the Nigerian Transplantation Guidelines by Philip Abiodun, chairman of the National Tertiary Health Institution Standard Committee (NTHISC).

According to the foundation, this marks the country’s first policy framework to regulate transplant practice, enforce ethical standards, and strengthen protections for living donors.

The foundation said the guidelines will form the basis for future reforms, including the development of national registries and the establishment of a deceased donor programme.

Activities lined up for the day include a national tribute to living donors and transplant pioneers, panel discussions on the evolution of kidney transplants in Nigeria, and a call to action to promote organ donation and improve donor welfare.

Commenting on the development, Obi Ekwenna, a professor of transplantation and urology at the University of Toledo, Ohio, and board chairman of the foundation, said organ transplant goes beyond a medical breakthrough.

“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,” Ekwenna said.

“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 a donor, there is no transplant.”

Living Donor Day Nigeria is held annually to promote organ donation and push for systemic improvements in the country’s transplant framework.