The Faith Ehimwenma Foundation (FEF), founded by Faith Temitope Babatunde, has expanded its campaign for sickle cell education and awareness across Nigeria, calling for increased testing, informed decision-making, and stronger community support for people living with the condition.
Babatunde established the Foundation after losing a close friend to sickle cell disorder, turning personal loss into a public health mission focused on awareness and prevention. “The pain of loss became my motivation,” she said. “No one should lose a loved one simply because of ignorance or lack of awareness. Through our work, we’re spreading knowledge, empathy, and hope.”
Since its creation, the Foundation has organised several outreach programmes that promote early genotype testing, access to health information, and community dialogue on sickle cell prevention.
Its main initiative, Healthy Futures, Bright Careers, brings together health education and mentorship in secondary schools. The project teaches students about genotype awareness while encouraging them to build confidence in their future aspirations.
Another initiative, Project 100 Smiles, distributes essential health and hygiene items to families in underserved communities and provides guidance on genetic counselling and family planning. The Foundation also runs Faith in the Streets, a mobile outreach that delivers health information and support to marketplaces, schools, and orphanages.
“These programmes are not just about awareness,” Babatunde explained. “They’re about giving people the tools to live with dignity, make informed decisions, and support one another.”
Beyond health education, the Foundation supports economic empowerment and youth development. Its VEX Money programme promotes financial literacy and entrepreneurship for women and young adults, while Back to School provides learning materials to children who face barriers to education.
Babatunde, who holds a degree in Economics, Banking and Finance, and a certificate in Leadership, Ethics and Corporate Accountability from Harvard Business School Online, applies her academic and professional experience to build accountable systems for impact. Her approach blends practical management with community engagement, ensuring that FEF’s initiatives achieve measurable and lasting results.
Sickle cell disorder remains one of Nigeria’s major health concerns. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the country accounts for nearly half of all global sickle cell births, with about 150,000 new cases each year.
Despite its scale, public education and access to testing remain limited. Babatunde believes community-led education can change that. “Awareness saves lives,” she said. “The more people understand their genotypes before marriage or childbirth, the fewer children will suffer from preventable pain.”
She added that the Foundation is partnering with health institutions, government bodies, and NGOs to expand its reach nationwide. “We’re not just raising awareness; we’re raising a generation that acts with knowledge and compassion,” she said.
