By Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Blood shortages has remain a major challenge in Nigeria, affecting maternal care, accident victims, surgeries, and emergency medical response.
This Founder, Doubleyou Centre, Mr. Israel Yabkwa, disclose this during the 2026 National Blood Drive Day.
“This initiative seeks to address this challenge through large-scale voluntary donor mobilization across communities nationwide.
“Blood shortages remain a major challenge in Nigeria, affecting maternal care, accident victims, surgeries, and emergency medical response. This initiative seeks to address this challenge through large-scale voluntary donor mobilization across communities nationwide.
According to him, the drive will be conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society and other medical stakeholders to ensure safe blood collection, donor screening, and proper medical oversight.
“The National Blood Drive 2026 is a coordinated nationwide humanitarian initiative designed to mobilize voluntary blood donors across Nigeria in order to strengthen the availability of safe blood for hospitals and emergency care.
Yabkwa revealed the vision of Doubleyou Center is to build a nationwide culture of voluntary blood donation that saves lives and strengthens Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He pointed out that the 2026 edition is designed as a simultaneous nationwide blood drive across the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through the collection and mobilization centers to Include, Universities and tertiary institutions, Churches and faith-based communities, Youth organizations and volunteer networks and Community outreach centers.
He invites partners to support the initiative through, Mobilization
Encouraging participation through networks, communities, and institutions, Creating awareness and advocacy
campaigns on voluntary blood donation. Others are,
Volunteer Engagement
Providing volunteers to assist with coordination, registration, and donor support and Strategic Support Logistical, financial, or institutional support to strengthen the nationwide rollout
“The initiative aims to mobilize thousands of voluntary blood donors nationwide, strengthen blood availability for hospitals, save lives through timely access to safe blood and promote a culture of humanitarian service and national solidarity.
He disclose that similar blood drive initiative organized in 2025 under the theme “That They May Have Life” was successfully conducted across states such as Lagos, Jos, Jalingo and Abuja (FCT).
“The success of that outreach inspired the expansion of the initiative into a national movement.
According to him, the Doubleyou Innovation Centre is a technology and innovation hub building scalable digital platforms that expand access to knowledge, empower young people, and drive social impact across Africa.
“As the creator of Labari Books—a multi-format learning platform delivering content in read, listen, and watch formats—the Centre is redefining how knowledge is accessed and experienced for a new generation.
“Beyond product innovation, Doubleyou has demonstrated execution at scale by leading Nigeria’s National Blood Donation Drive across all 36 states and the FCT, reflecting its capacity to deliver large-scale, mission-driven impact initiatives.
Positioned at the intersection of technology, education, and social impact.
“The Doubleyou Innovation Centre partners with global institutions, governments, and leading organizations to design and deploy solutions that transform lives at scale – he said.