— An Opinion Piece by Boluwaji Ogunmola

What do slam dunks and sickle cell anemia have in common? If your first instinct is “nothing,” then you’re not alone—but Showtyme Foundation is here to prove us all wrong.

Last week at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, I witnessed something truly remarkable: the 2025 edition of “Double Check Your Status & Ball.” No, it wasn’t just another basketball tournament—it was a heartfelt, high-energy blend of sport, science, and soul. And at the center of it all? A man whose personal pain became a powerful platform: Shola Durojaiye.

When Purpose Bounces Higher Than The Ball

Let’s pause here for a second. Imagine losing your 12-year-old daughter because of a genotype misdiagnosis. Most of us would crumble, shut down, grieve silently. But Shola? He turned heartbreak into hope.

“Although I lost my daughter to a sickle cell crisis, I have used Showtyme Foundation to continue sensitizing parents and youths,” he said, standing tall before a crowd of athletes, students, parents, and health advocates. Chills.

This isn’t just advocacy. It’s personal. It’s a mission. It’s a movement.

Free Throws AND Free Testing?

Now here’s where it gets even more impressive. Amid the alley-oops and three-pointers, free genotype testing and health counseling were being offered. For the fourth year in a row, mind you! While the crowd cheered on the court, another crowd queued up to learn their blood group and genotype—something that, believe it or not, many Nigerians still don’t know accurately.

Adewale Adeniji, the Foundation’s secretary, put it best:

“Many children die from sickle cell complications simply due to ignorance.”
This initiative is fixing that, one test at a time.

Health is the Real MVP

And the real slam dunk of the day? The message from guest speaker Dr. Olalekan Salami: “Double-check your genotype before marriage.”
Simple. Direct. Life-saving.
He also tackled heavier issues like Nigeria’s health sector brain drain and why government investment is crucial—but still, the focus remained on empowering the youth with knowledge, especially when it comes to relationships and future family planning.

Honestly, can we talk about how refreshing it is to see a health outreach that isn’t boring? This wasn’t your typical lecture-hall seminar. It was basketball with a purpose, a fun and accessible space where people felt safe, curious, and connected.

Why This Deserves More Than Just Applause

Shola Durojaiye didn’t have to do any of this. He could’ve mourned his daughter privately. But instead, he built a community of changemakers. He’s helping Nigerians take charge of their health before it’s too late—before love blinds us to the hard conversations, before children are born into pain that could’ve been prevented.

To Shola, I say this:
You’re not just the convener of an event—you’re the architect of a legacy.

And to everyone reading:
Ever checked your genotype? Better yet—double-check. You don’t need a basketball to get in the game of protecting your future.

Let’s keep the conversation going:Have you double-checked your status? Would you attend a health + sports event like this? Drop your thoughts!