Dr Emmanuel Anigilaje, a Consultant Paediatric Nephrologist from the University of Abuja, Nigeria, visited Alder Hey Children's Hospital recently to meet his former mentor, Dr Louise Oni, in advance of his graduation ceremony at the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Dr Anigilaje recently completed a master’s degree in Organ Transplantation with distinction at the University of Liverpool, where Dr Oni played a crucial role in supervising his research.
The meeting was an opportunity to reflect on his academic journey and the mentorship that guided him. Touring the hospital with Dr Oni, he expressed admiration for the state-of-the-art facilities at the hospital. "Alder Hey is a beautiful hospital with a lovely ambience. I hope one day that every child with kidney failure can access kidney transplantation no matter where they live" Dr Anigilaje remarked, highlighting his aspiration to bring similar standards of care to Nigeria.
Dr Anigilaje's relationship with Dr Oni began when he embarked on his master’s degree in 2017, a program he was recommended by a colleague familiar with the University of Liverpool’s strength in teaching and research of health science. Throughout his studies, Dr Oni provided invaluable guidance, helping him to navigate the complexities of paediatric nephrology and organ transplantation. Working with Dr Oni, Dr Anigilaje focused on developing a comprehensive strategy to address the severe shortage of kidney transplantation services for children in Nigeria.
Their collaboration was built upon tackling the urgent need for equitable access to kidney transplants for Nigerian children suffering from chronic kidney disease. Dr Anigilaje's dissertation detailed the dire situation in Nigeria, where around 500 children develop kidney failure each year, but fewer than five can afford a transplant. The country faces a critical shortage of dialysis centres and trained medical personnel, with families often unable to afford even three months of dialysis treatment.
Dr Oni commended Dr Anigilaje's dedication and the impact of his work: "It was an absolute pleasure to supervise Dr Anigilaje to complete his master’s degree. Together we shaped his dissertation project to focus on the most urgent problem facing paediatric nephrology in his country and this is that children die with kidney failure. His work has created a fantastic strategy to map out how to fairly allow all children access to kidney transplantation in Nigeria that may save many children's lives. His project represents the global impact of research output at the University and Dr Anigilaje should be extremely proud of what he has achieved for the children in his home country."
Dr Anigilaje’s future vision includes establishing a government-funded kidney transplantation program for children across Nigeria’s six main regions. His work has laid the groundwork for creating a network of trained professionals and infrastructure to support this initiative. The meeting with Dr Oni was not just a moment of personal accomplishment, and friendly reunion, but also a stepping stone towards realising a transformative healthcare project that could change the lives of countless children in Nigeria.
As Dr Anigilaje prepares to celebrate his graduation, his work - inspired and supported by mentors like Dr Oni - continues to drive forward his mission to ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to life-saving kidney treatment.