In 1979, Anionwu became the United Kingdom's first sickle-cell and thalassemia nurse specialist, helping establish the Brent Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Counselling centre[1] with consultant haematologist Milica Brozovic.

She spent just over two years living with her mother, a relationship that ended when her stepfather, who did not accept her and drank heavily, started to physically abuse her.

Shortly before her 25th birthday she suddenly found her father: barrister and former Nigerian Ambassador to Italy and the Vatican, Lawrence Anionwu.

In 1979, she worked with Dr Milica Brozovic to create the first nurse-led UK sickle-cell and thalassemia screening and counselling centre in London Borough of Brent.

Following the unveiling of the statue at St Thomas' Hospital in June 2016, she was appointed a Life Patron of the Mary Seacole Trust.

[8] Anionwu is also a Patron of other charities: In 2016, she published the first edition of her memoir called Mixed Blessing from a Cambridge Union (ISBN 978-0-9955268-0-8).

[10][11] In her book, she reveals the many layers of her life, from a childhood marked by hidden truths to uncovering her father’s identity, experiencing a political awakening, and emerging as a leader in Black health advocacy.

She sheds light on the profound health disparities affecting ethnic communities, spanning issues from sickle cell disease to the inequalities exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anionwu was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to nursing and the Mary Seacole Statue Appeal.

[17] In 2019, in recognition of Anionwu's major contribution to nursing, research and campaigning, the University of St Andrews conferred on her the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa.