Sunday Afolabi was born with sickle cell anemia to a middle-class family in Nigeria, West Africa. He grew up knowing that he was very special and brilliant as well. He would sometimes make comments such as “God must know why I have to bear this cross, but I look forward to a day when no one will ever have to suffer from sickle cell anemia again” He did not let anything deter his focus and he graduated high school in 1986 in flying colors.
He moved to the University of Ibadan in 1987 and studied Electrical Engineering. He finished in 1992 and got a job at Ikeja General Hospital, Lagos Nigeria. He later became the head of engineering at this well-respected hospital until his death in 1999 a few days before his 30th birthday on October 12th, 1999.
His life and death motivated the birth of the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario formerly known as Seed of Life Philanthropic Organization Inc.
We believe that a day will come when no one will suffer from the complications of sickle cell disease, especially the debilitating pain associated with the disease.
We believe that by educating our community one person/group at a time, many newborns will be born sickle cell-free.
In the spirit and memory of Sunday Afolabi, we hope to inspire individuals with SCD to achieve higher heights by creating the S.A Scholarship Grant.
We are very grateful to the African Caribbean Canadian Internal Support Network (ACC-ISN) of the York Region Police for sponsoring a Sunday Afolabi Scholarship Grant for one student each in 2018, 2019, and 2023.
To apply for the scholarship grant, print, complete, and send completed application forms to:
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario Inc.
235-415 Oakdale Rd. North York, ON. M3N 1W7
E-mail: info@sicklecellanemiaca.live-website.com
Sholape Animashaun was born Sholape Rashidat Arigbabu on May 6, 1965. She migrated to Canada in 1995 in order to join her husband. They were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Aminat, and two lovely boys, Mohammed and Abdullai
While in Canada, she worked at CIBC and TD banks. However, her burning desire to become a nurse where she could trade her skill for humanity, especially for sick people, pushed her into a four-year nursing degree program at George Brown College and Ryerson University in Toronto. She completed the program in 2008 and was working at Brampton Hospital when she suddenly took ill and died at the early age of 45 years.
She was a caring mother, kind-hearted, and loved by all. Apart from her husband and kids, she left behind a father, mother, and siblings. Although Shola did not have sickle cell disease, her family continues to grant a scholarship for youth with sickle cell disease in her memory
To apply for the scholarship grant, print, complete, and send completed application forms to:
Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario Inc.
235-415 Oakdale Rd. North York, ON. M3N 1W7
E-mail: info@sicklecellanemiaca.live-website.com