Queen Elizabeth II of Britain has conferred one of the highest national honours, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, on a British-born Nigerian nurse, health expert, lecturer and medical professor, Ms. Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu.
The Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire conferment on Dame Anionwu of Irish and Nigerian descent was in recognition of her services to the nursing profession in the United Kingdom.
Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu contributed to opening the first sickle cell and thalassemia counselling centre in the UK. She also helped create the Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice at the University of West London. She retired in 2007.
Anionwu is a member and patron of multiple committees: Sickle Cell Society, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association UK, Vice President of Unite/Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, Editorial Advisory Board of Nursing Standard, NHS Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Screening Programme Steering Group, Honorary Advisor to the Chief Nursing Officer’s Black & Minority Ethnic Advisory Group, and Life patron of The Mary Seacole Trust.
Even though she retired in 2007, Anionwu has remained active in the nursing community and overlooks many projects.
