In a statement issued on Sunday, the editors joined Nigerians at home and abroad in mourning with the award-winning author and her family, describing the loss as “profoundly shattering” and extending condolences to Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
Co-editors of the literary anthology Camouflage: Best of Contemporary Writing from Nigeria, Professors Nduka Otiono and Odoh Diego Okenyodo, have expressed deep sorrow over the death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son, Nnamdi, while calling for a transparent investigation and accountability within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the editors joined Nigerians at home and abroad in mourning with the award-winning author and her family, describing the loss as “profoundly shattering” and extending condolences to Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege.
“Losing a child is a profoundly shattering experience, and no parent should ever endure such grief,” the editors said. “We offer Chimamanda our deepest condolences and stand with her in this dark hour.”
The statement followed Adichie’s public account alleging that her son’s death on January 6 was avoidable and resulted from negligence during what she described as routine medical procedures at a Lagos-based hospital.
Quoting the author, the editors said, “My son would be alive today if not for an incident at Euracare Hospital on January 6th.”
They noted that the Lagos State Government had ordered an independent investigation into the incident, acknowledging that “the death of a child is a profound tragedy” and promising that those responsible would face justice.
“We urge that the probe be thorough, transparent and impartial,” the editors said, adding that “every detail must be uncovered so that the truth emerges.”
Beyond the individual case, Otiono and Okenyodo said the tragedy highlights broader systemic challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including delays in access to care and weak accountability mechanisms.
They cited findings from a corruption victimisation survey conducted by anti-corruption organisations TAP Initiative and Dataphyte, which identified the collection of informal financial tips from patients as a prevalent problem in the health sector.
While clarifying that they were not alleging such practices in Adichie’s case, the editors said the findings reflect a culture that often leads to treatment delays and compromised patient safety.
“It is intolerable that any patient, whether child or adult, should be denied care or treated late because of failure or greed on the part of health workers,” the statement read.
The editors called for immediate accountability, demanding a comprehensive investigation into all medical and administrative actions connected to Nnamdi’s death, as well as reforms to strengthen hospital oversight and enforce sanctions against healthcare workers found guilty of negligence.
They also urged the media and civil society to closely monitor the investigation, noting that the Lagos State Government had pledged to make its findings public.
The statement said, “We join Ms. Adichie and concerned Nigerians in calling for: A thorough, independent investigation into the circumstances of Little Nnamdi’s death, covering all medical and administrative actions at every stage.
“The people of Lagos have the right to know what happened, and any wrongdoers – whether individuals or institutions – must be held fully responsible.
“Immediate reforms in hospital oversight. The findings of the above-referenced survey must be heeded as a warning: hospitals should face strict checks on procedural errors. Any healthcare worker found to have neglected duty, or endangered patients should face sanction.
“We urge authorities and the media to follow this case closely. The Lagos government has pledged to make investigation results public. We trust they will fulfill that promise. Families like Ms. Adichie’s deserve the truth, and Nigerians deserve assurance that their hospitals are safe.”
“This case should catalyse nationwide action,” they said, calling for safeguards to ensure hospitals remain “places of care and compassion, not sites of preventable tragedy.”
Paying tribute to the late child, the editors said they hoped his death would not be in vain, stressing that literature and public accountability can help drive social change.
They reaffirmed their solidarity with Adichie, expressing hope that the ongoing outpouring of support would help her family through the grieving process, while insisting that Nigeria must confront uncomfortable truths to prevent similar tragedies in the future.