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Lagos-Based NGO Supports 300 Sickle Cell Patients With Grants, Business Tools

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A Non-Governmental Organisation, CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative on Saturday empowered no fewer than 300 carriers of Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD)in Lagos State.
In her speech at an event tagged; the Project Empower A Warrior (PEW 4.0), Ms Timi Edwin, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CrimsonBow, said that such empowerment had become imperative to alleviate the suffering of people living with sickle cell anemia.
 “This platform is devoted to supporting and uplifting individuals living with sickle cell disorder and their caregivers. We are  part of a strong, compassionate community bound by empathy, hope, and resilience.
“Project Empower A Warrior was created to inform, inspire, and equip warriors with the tools, skills, and opportunities to live fulfilled, independent, and meaningful lives.
“People living with sickle cell deserve to be empowered. Sickle cell is already a limiting disorder with a lot of limitations.  We want to change the narrative, we do not want to just survive, we want to thrive.
“No fewer than 300 patients will go home with various business tools and kitchen utensils today, while some warriors will win grants.
“The winner of the talent pitch contestants today will go home with N1 million prize, the first runner up will take N500,000, while the second runner up will take N250,000 prize, among other micro grants to empower patients  in businesses,” Edwin said.
She urged the patients to step forward boldly in business and give their best, saying, “every great achievement begins with a little fear and a lot of faith.”
According to her,  the theme, “Do It Afraid… Breaking Limits and Building Dreams,” is a call to action—to push beyond fear, embrace courage, and pursue their dreams in spite of life’s challenges.
“We know that the sickle cell journey comes with its own challenges, but today, we focus on strength, courage, and possibility,” she said.
Edwin expressed the NGO’s gratitude to  partners, speakers, facilitators, and sponsors for their unwavering belief in the vision to better the lot of sickle cell patients in Nigeria.
She called on the government, corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to help invest in the patients to enhance their economic and physical survival.
“At CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, we envision a world where individuals living with sickle cell disorder can thrive, free from the limitations imposed by their condition.
“We’re committed to creating opportunities, providing support, and advocating for the rights and dignity of warriors and their families,” she added.
According to him, despite the condition, patients can do a business and succeed at it to empower themselves, their family and others even to pay hospital bills.
Edwin said that the initiative in the last four years had empowered almost 2,000 patients.
Delivering a Keynote Address, Mr Olalekan Owonikoko, Active Executive Director, Project Enable Africa urged patients to take personal responsibility over their life and survival
Owonikoko, a Counselling Therapist and Mental Health Advocate urged the patients to focus their energy and strength on what they could do without being afraid, saying 80 per cent of thee fear was never real.
He urged patients not to worry over issues outside their control but empower their minds to show up in things within their control boldly and courageously in spite of all limitations.
“If our mind is strong enough, we can in spite of health limitations. The mind is that powerful, We can move beyond our physical limitations.
“The responsibility of our life is solely and entirely on us. If you  have a dream and you don’t fulfill it or an idea and you don’t bring them to life, the world will still move on.
“You have everything you need to become the person you want to be in spite of the fear and uncertainty. You have the right and permission to be everything you want to do. If you fail, do it again.
“Our job is to show up, manifest strength without being intimidated. People who are not as smart as we are, are showing up,” Owonikoko challenged the patients.
He urged them not to be afraid of failure, assuring that they would soon become an expert.
Speaking, the Project Coordinator, Mrs Christiana Bakare said that the ‘Project Emperor a Warrior’, PEW, started in 2022 with the aim of connecting more closely with adult warriors and caregivers.
Bakare, who expressed concern about ways patients were coping amid the harsh economic realities, said that CrimsonBow had offered tangible support.
She said that the discovery of the harsh condition of patients birthed PEW–a deliberate and targeted intervention designed to reduce the socio-economic burden faced by individuals living with SCD.
According to her, the hereditary blood disorder remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria.
“With over 150,000 babies born annually with the condition, and only about half surviving beyond the age of five, the need for continuous care, empowerment, and support cannot be overstated,” Bakare said.
One of the beneficiaries of business tools, Master Aduragbemi Akinyosoye, who won a wireless clippers, said that the items would help him for both domestic and economic purposes.
Speaking, Mrs Temitope Ibrahim, the winner of the talent pitch contest, who was given a N1million grant, appreciated the NGO for impacting and empowering lives of people living with sickle cell anemia.
Ibrahim, who deals in catering services, said that the grant would take her business to higher heights, to be a blessing to herself, family and fellow carriers of SCD.
Adekoye Sarah emerged second and won N500 grant while Adebisi Omotayo came third was given N250,000 grant.
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