Fresh details have emerged regarding the death of 21-month-old Nkanu Nnamdi, son of Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and her husband, Dr. Ivara Esege, following a brief illness during the family’s stay in Lagos over the Christmas holidays.
The child reportedly developed an infection, prompting his parents to arrange a full medical evacuation abroad.
A specialist team was scheduled to transfer him to the United States for further treatment on January 7, 2026.
Prior to the evacuation, Nkanu Nnamdi was taken to a private medical facility in Victoria Island, Lagos, on January 6 to undergo medical tests requested by the overseas team.
Sources familiar with the matter said he arrived at the facility in a stable condition.
However, before the planned transfer could occur, his condition reportedly worsened.
Individuals close to the family have questioned the adequacy of the care he received in the hours before his death, raising concerns that established clinical protocols may not have been fully observed.
“This wasn’t an act of God,” one source said. “This was a failure of care. If those professionals had done their jobs for just a few hours, that child would be alive today.”
The family has not issued a public statement, asking only for privacy during their mourning.
Efforts to obtain comments from the medical facility involved are ongoing as further details continue to emerge.
