A consortium of more than 100 civil society organizations in Nigeria warmly welcomes the federal government’s approval of a $1 billion fund to address the urgent challenge of child and maternal mortality across Nigeria’s 36 states. This landmark decision, announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Ali Pate, on March 9, 2025, signals a renewed commitment to safeguarding the lives of Nigerian mothers and children—a cause central to our collective mission.
The announcement, made during the launch of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII) in Ogun State, underscores the critical need to tackle Nigeria’s persistently high maternal and child mortality rates. With this $1 billion facility through the HOPE Project, the government aims to incentivize states to achieve measurable progress in reducing these preventable deaths—a move we view as a critical step toward a healthier and more equitable Nigeria.
A Step Forward, But Execution is Key
While we applaud this bold investment, the consortium emphasizes that the success of this initiative hinges on its effective implementation through accountable and transparent processes. Maternal and child mortality remains a public health crisis in Nigeria, with countless families losing loved ones due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, limited access to skilled birth attendants, and socio-economic barriers. This funding presents an unprecedented opportunity to address these root causes—if deployed with transparency, accountability, and community engagement at its core.
We urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with state governments and development partners like the World Bank, World Health Organization and United Nations agencies, to ensure that these resources reach the grassroots level, where they are most needed. Rural and underserved communities must not be left behind in this effort.
Furthermore, we call for a clear framework to track progress, regular public reporting on fund utilization, and the inclusion of civil society organizations in monitoring and evaluation processes.
A Call for Holistic Action
The consortium also stresses that financial investment alone is not enough. To drastically reduce maternal and child mortality, as envisioned by the government, this initiative must be paired with comprehensive strategies. These include strengthening primary healthcare systems, training and retaining healthcare workers, improving emergency transportation for expectant mothers, and addressing social determinants such as maternal education and nutrition. The mention of upgrading 774 healthcare facilities nationwide is a promising start, and we look forward to seeing these efforts prioritized and expanded.
Our Commitment
As a collective of organizations dedicated to public health and social justice, the consortium stands ready to support this initiative. We will continue to amplify the voices of affected families, provide evidence-based recommendations, and advocate for policies that protect the rights and well-being of Nigerian women and children. Our expertise spans advocacy, research, and community engagement, and we offer these resources to ensure the success of this program.
Looking Ahead
The approval of this $1 billion fund is a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians. It is a chance to rewrite the narrative of maternal and child health in our nation. The consortium calls on all stakeholders—government, private sector, development partners, and citizens—to unite in making this vision a reality. Together, we can build a Nigeria where no mother or child dies needlessly.
Signed by:
- African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
- African Network for Anticorruption (ANA)
- Agnemark Initiative for Sustainability and Social Development
- Alabaster Jar Foundation for Teenage Moms
- Alheri Peace Building and Empowerment Foundation (APBEF)
- Amaclare Connect & Development Initiative
- Anchor to Help Organisation.
- Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative (ACADI)
- Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP)
- Association for Public Health Education and Legal Research Documentation in Nigeria (APHELRDiN)
- Awo- Omamma Development Forum (ADF)
- Bimbo Odukoya Foundation
- BraveHeart Initiative
- Center for Peace Education and Community Development
- Centre for Accountability and Inclusive Development (CAAID)
- Centre for Empowerment and Advocacy
- Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA)
- Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI)
- Child Health Ogranization
- Child Protection Network Lagos State Chapter
- Children Impact and Development Initiative
- Citizen Community Aid & Development Initiative
- Community Life and Wellbeing Initiative
- Community Resilience Accountability -Tracking Empowerment Initiative (CreATE-i)
- Council for Affirmative Action (COFAA)
- CSO Accountability and Transparency Initiative Ltd/Gte (CATI)
- DEVATOP Centre for Africa’s Development
- Disabilities Awareness Welfare Development and Rights Initiative (DAWDRIN) Incorporated
- Disability Law Advocate Project (DLAP)
- Echoes of women in Africa
- Eden Edu Care Foundation Nigeria
- Egbema Clean and Green Initiative
- Eje Ajuaga Foundation
- Eminent Emerging Entrepreneur Foundation (EEEF)
- Equity Sustainable Development Initiative
- Ethics and Corporate Compliance Institute of Nigeria
- Exquisite Youth Empowerment Initiative
- Flood and Erosion Control Advocacy Initiative (FECAI)
- Food Basket Foundation International (FBF)
- Forum of Delta State NGOs
- Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria
- Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
- Gender Development Initiative
- Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (GPSDC)
- Girl Child Art Foundation
- Godiya Golden Empowerment Initiative (GGEI)
- Gutul’s Annual Lecture Initiative and Empowerment (Gutul’s Foundation)
- Health Standard Concern Organization (HESCO)
- HEDA Resource Centre
- Hedge Empowerment Foundation (HEF)
- Help Me to Succeed Foundation
- Helps For All International Foundation
- Human Right Advancement Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC)
- Initiative for Social Development in Africa (ISODAF)
- Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF)
- Inspired Generation Leadership Initiative (IGLI)
- Institute for Medical and Health Law (IMHL)
- International Centre for Women Empowerment and Child Development (ICWECD)
- International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria
- International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC)
- Isaac and Patience Olugbuo Foundation (IPOF)
- Jemissanna Peace and Community Development
- Jewel Health and Development Initiative (JEHDI)
- Jomurota Community Care Center
- Kollaborative Development Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (Kode-E)
- Koslivia Development Initiative (KODI)
- Lawyers Alert
- Marypearl Initiative for Youth and Family
- Mawumadoka Children Foundation
- Mirabel Centre
- Mowalek Center for Sustainable Community Development
- Nde Oduko Foundation
- Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria
- Next Generation Youth Initiative International (NeGYI)
- Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
- Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF)
- Olufuson Media
- Onyedinma Foundation.
- Parallax Creative Youth Foundation
- Partnership for Justice
- Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET)
- Project Alert on Violence Against Women (Project Alert)
- Regale Initiative for Community Health and Social Development (RICH-SD) Nigeria
- Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre (RCIDC)
- Rosyetta Community Support Foundation (Recsf)
- Rural Engagement and Development Foundation (RED Foundation
- Rural Health Mission Nigeria
- SBM Intelligence
- SHEROS Foundation
- Show Care Foundation (SCF)
- Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI)
- Stellar Community Impact Development Initiative S-CIDI
- Stop The Girl Child Discrimination Foundation
- The Inclusion Project (TIP)
- The Meluibe Empowerment Foundation
- Theios Caregivers Initiative.
- Tora Community Care Initiative
- Trees on Earth Development Foundation
- Triple Justice Foundation (TJF)
- Wake – Women and Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative.
- West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria
- Wellness Africa Foundation
- West African NGO Network (WANGONET)
- Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
- Women Africa
- Women and Girls with Albinism Network (WGWAN)
- Women and Youths Environmental Safety and Empowerment Organization
- Women Assist Foundation
- Women Information Network (WINET) Enugu
- Women of Inestimable Values Foundation
- Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET)
- Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL)
- Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
- Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSADI)
- Youth For Change Initiative (YOFCI)