The KB Klub of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, has stressed the importance of consistent voluntary blood donation as a lifesaving practice during emergencies and a means of improving public health outcomes.

The appeal came during an initiative organised in partnership with the Oba Saheed Elegushi Foundation, tagged “Your Power to Gift Life 2.0”, which covered six Lagos councils: Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Ikeja and Ikorodu.

According to the organisers, the campaign yielded over 500 pints of blood and went beyond collection, featuring advocacy walks, health education sessions, and a wide publicity drive that reached more than one million people both online and offline.

At the flagship event in Eti-Osa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Alayeluwa Saheed Ademola Elegushi, underscored the role of community leadership in tackling pressing health challenges. He commended KB Klub and its partners for mobilising young people, adding that voluntary blood donation should be embraced as a culture in Nigeria.

The presence of the Provost, College of Medicine UNILAG, Prof. Ademola Oremosu; Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr Toni Adeyemi; and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr Bodunrin Osikomaiya, reflected the importance of collaboration between government, academia and civil society in addressing blood shortages.

Project Lead and General Secretary of KB Klub, Sheriffdeen Oloyede, described the programme as a product of teamwork, backed by the Klub’s President, Ayobami Olomiyete, and immediate past president, Mustapha Madehin.

The Klub reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the culture of voluntary blood donation in Lagos and beyond, pledging to sustain the momentum of the campaign by working with government agencies, health institutions and local communities to make blood donation a consistent part of public health culture.