Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, has changed her relationship with Nigeria, adding that she does not want to return to the country.
Adichie disclosed this in an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Nkanu, one of her twin sons, died on January 7, 2026, following a medical emergency at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital in Lagos.
Adichie said Nkanu developed a fever during the Christmas holidays and was initially given antibiotics by his father, Dr Ivara Esege. When he failed to improve, the family sought further care and began plans to take him to the United States.
The child underwent an MRI at Euracare on January 6 and was sedated with propofol. Adichie said he suffered cardiac arrest after the procedure and that a doctor later told her he had received too much of the drug.
Nkanu died the following day.
The circumstances surrounding his treatment have triggered allegations of medical negligence, which Euracare has disputed.
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The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria investigated the case and made a preliminary finding that three doctors had cases to answer.
A coroner’s inquest opened in Lagos in February but has been stalled by legal proceedings involving the hospital. The matter is scheduled to resume on October 8, 2026.
Adichie and her husband have called for accountability and improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The tragedy has also affected the author’s longstanding connection to Nigeria, which has played a major role in her identity and writing.
She said her children could eventually be a reason to return, noting that her daughter still considers Nigeria her “happy place”.
The case has drawn further attention to healthcare accountability in Lagos, recalling the 2023 death of medical doctor Vwaere Diaso, who was killed when an elevator at Lagos Island General Hospital’s staff quarters crashed. A subsequent panel found the elevator unfit for use.
Adichie said she still struggles to accept her son’s death, describing the experience as “surreal.”