Canadian health authorities have launched an investigation following the death of a 22-year-old Nigerian international student during a plasma donation procedure in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The incident, which has drawn attention to the safety of plasma donation centres in the country, is being reviewed by Health Canada after the agency received mandatory reports of fatal adverse reactions linked to donation procedures. Officials confirmed that two deaths occurred at clinics in Winnipeg operated by Spanish healthcare company Grifols within a span of just over three months.
One of the deceased has been identified as Rodiyat Alabede, a 22-year-old international student with Nigerian and Ivorian heritage. Friends described her as a determined young woman who was studying to become a social worker and was active within the Muslim Nigerian community in Winnipeg. Her death has intensified concerns surrounding Nigerian student plasma donation in Canada.
According to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba, Alabede became unresponsive during the procedure in October 2025 and died shortly afterwards. However, authorities noted that investigations are still ongoing and the exact cause of death has not yet been officially linked to the donation process.
Stephanie Holfeld, Executive Director of the office, said certain investigative steps were still underway to determine what led to the fatal incident.
Friends who spoke about the late student remembered her as compassionate and resilient.
“She had a motherly side to her. She was protective and sweet. She never gave up even when things got difficult for her,” said Chioma Ijoma, a close acquaintance.
Health Canada confirmed it had deployed inspectors to the Winnipeg facilities after receiving reports related to the deaths, which occurred in October 2025 and January 2026. The cases have sparked wider scrutiny of the Nigerian student plasma donation case and the safety standards in privately run plasma clinics.
Grifols, the company operating the clinics, said it had reported both incidents to authorities within the required 72-hour window and had launched its own internal investigation.
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In a statement, the company expressed condolences to the families of the deceased but said it had no evidence linking the deaths directly to plasma donation.
“We have no reason to believe that there is a correlation between the donors’ passing and plasma donation,” the company said.
Plasma donation involves drawing blood from a donor, separating the plasma, and returning the red blood cells back to the body. The plasma is later used to manufacture life-saving therapies for patients with immune disorders and other medical conditions.
In Canada and the United States, the practice has also become a source of income for some students and low-income earners. Grifols advertises that regular donors can earn up to 6,000 Canadian dollars annually, equivalent to about $4,400.
However, the deaths in Winnipeg have raised renewed concerns about the risks involved, particularly for international students who sometimes rely on such programmes for financial support. The Nigerian student plasma donation incident is now under close review as investigators seek to determine what exactly went wrong.