Lupus is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and organs, and it is classified as an autoimmune condition. Staying physically active for patients is quite challenging.
To raise both awareness and funds to support Lupus patients, Tobi Yusuf, an executive director at Veritasi Homes, is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa and highest free-standing mountain in the world in Tanzania as part of the Summit for Lupus Initiative.
He is undertaking the climb in collaboration with Mablevi Lupus Foundation which is the beneficiary organisation of the campaign founded by Safinat Emengo, a Lupus warrior and advocate. The mission is clear and urgent: raise awareness and funds to support Lupus patients.
In an interview with Josephine Okojie-Okeiyi, he discussed his motivation of not only to raise awareness for people living with Lupus, but also to improve long term care and patient outcomes in Nigeria through the establishment of a dedicated Lupus Wellness Centre.
What inspired you to focus on lupus awareness and the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro to join the Summit for Lupus advocacy and fundraising initiative?
This climb is rooted in the lived realities of people with lupus. You see people who are talented, capable, driven, but most days they are fighting pain and exhaustion that nobody else can see. Yet they still show up, still perform, still carry responsibilities. That level of quiet strength stays with you.
What struck me most was how often they had to explain themselves. How often were they misunderstood? How often people assumed they were exaggerating because they did not “look sick”.
The Kilimanjaro climb under the Summit for Lupus initiative is symbolic. For many lupus warriors, life already feels like climbing a mountain every single day. This climb is about turning that invisible struggle into something visible.
This is about dignity, recognition, and building something that serves the lupus community long after the summit.
What gaps do you aim to address in Nigeria?
There are two major gaps. The first is awareness. The second is the technical capacity within the healthcare system to diagnose and manage lupus effectively. Lupus is complex to diagnose and manage.
It requires specialised knowledge, early recognition of symptoms, and coordinated long-term care. In many cases, patients move between different doctors for years before getting the right diagnosis or treatment plan.
This gap creates ripple effects across the entire patient journey. In families, in workplaces, and even in early medical encounters, symptoms are often misinterpreted or treated in isolation rather than as part of a systemic autoimmune condition. Sumit for Lupus aims to raise awareness and improve care through a lupus wellness centre.
How do you plan to raise awareness about lupus and reduce diagnosis delays in Nigeria?
Climbing Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain, rising 5,895 meters above sea level, I’m sure will cause some heads to turn. However, Awareness has to move into everyday life, not just hospitals.
We are using storytelling, social media, partnerships, and visibility-driven campaigns like Summit for Lupus to make lupus part of the public conversation. When people recognise symptoms earlier, they are more likely to seek appropriate medical attention sooner.
Working with organisations like Mablevi Lupus Foundation is very important because they are already deeply connected to the community. They understand the lived reality of lupus in Nigeria, not just the medical definition.
How would you measure the success of your awareness campaigns?
Success is not just digital numbers. It is when someone recognises symptoms earlier and seeks help sooner. It is when families respond with support instead of doubt. It is when workplaces respond with understanding instead of suspicion. And it is when we build sustainable systems like the
Lupus Wellness Centre that support people long-term. If fewer Nigerians have to suffer in silence before getting answers, then we have made real progress.
What challenges do you anticipate in lupus awareness efforts in Nigeria, and how do you think they can be addressed?
One major challenge is that lupus is invisible. In a society where illness is often expected to be physically obvious, many people living with lupus are misunderstood or dismissed.
Another challenge is competing health priorities. There are many urgent health issues in Nigeria, and autoimmune diseases often receive less attention.
The solution is consistency. Sustained education. Strong partnerships. And building institutions and systems that continue the work long after campaigns end.
Anything else you want to share?
People with lupus often don’t “look sick,” so their reality gets questioned. They navigate unpredictable flares that can confine them to bed for days or weeks. They have to manage complex medication regimens with serious side effects. Some have left careers they worked years to build because their bodies can no longer sustain the demands.
This is not just about a mountain. This is about people. It is about making sure people living with lupus feel seen, believed, and supported. No one should have to fight an illness and fight to be understood at the same time. If the summit for lupus campaign can make even one person feel less alone, then it is already worth it.
We have made some progress toward our goal and I am deeply grateful to our partners who have made this initiative possible: Providus Bank, Loatsad Promomedia, and E-motions Advertising. We are honored by your support and look forward to welcoming more partners who share our vision of creating lasting change and meaningful impact for people living with lupus.
