A Nigerian sickle cell advocate, Anisa Ishaq-Balogun, has died just a year after graduating with a first-class degree from the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Anisa, popularly known on X as @Nerdy_neesah, reportedly passed away on Wednesday after battling Sickle Cell Disease for several years.
An X user, Dhareymu, announced her death in a post that read: “Inna liLlah wa inna ileyhi roojiuun Kindly help pray for her when you see this tweet. This sister passed away and was buried this morning. May Allah widen her grave, forgive her shortcomings and make her one of the people of Jannah.”
In 2025, Anisa graduated with a first-class degree in Cell Biology and Genetics from the University of Lagos, finishing with an outstanding CGPA of 4.82 out of 5.00.
She was among the 14 First-Class graduates in the 2023/2024 academic session. Despite the challenges posed by her health condition, Anisa reportedly wrote several of her examinations from the hospital while receiving treatment.
Friends and colleagues described her journey as one marked by resilience and determination. Her success was also said to be strongly supported by her family, particularly her mother, who continually encouraged her to push through the difficulties of living with sickle cell.
Her passing has sparked tributes online, with many remembering her as a brilliant student and a courageous advocate who inspired others living with the condition.
