A coalition over 100 civil society organisations in Nigeria has welcomed the Nigerian government’s decision to allocate $1 billion to combat maternal and child mortality across the country.
The announcement, made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, on March 9, 2025, marks an important step towards improving healthcare for mothers and children.
The funding, introduced under the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), was unveiled in Ogun State. It aims to encourage states to make measurable progress in reducing preventable deaths.
The initiative, part of the HOPE Project, reflects the government’s renewed commitment to addressing Nigeria’s persistently high maternal and infant mortality rates.
While commending the move, the civil society groups stress that the success of this initiative depends on its transparent and accountable implementation.
“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,” the groups stated.
They highlight the need for the funds to be directed effectively to underserved communities, ensuring improved healthcare infrastructure, access to skilled birth attendants, and essential medical services.
The consortium urges the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, alongside state governments and international partners, to ensure the funds reach those who need them most.
“We urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with state governments and development partners like the World Bank, World Health Organisation 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,” the statement reads in part.
They also call for a clear monitoring framework, regular public reporting, and active involvement of civil society in tracking progress.
The coalition further emphasises that financial investment alone is insufficient. Lasting change requires a comprehensive approach, including strengthening primary healthcare systems, training healthcare workers, improving emergency transport for expectant mothers, and addressing social factors such as education and nutrition.
The civil society organisations have also pledged to support the initiative, stating that they will continue to amplify the voices of affected families, provide research-backed recommendations, and push for policies that safeguard the rights of women and children.
“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 prioritised and expanded.
“As a collective of organisations 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 programme,” the statement added.
Below is a list of the civil society organisations:
1. African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
2. African Network for Anticorruption (ANA)
3. Agnemark Initiative for Sustainability and Social Development
4. Alabaster Jar Foundation for Teenage Moms
5. Alheri Peace Building and Empowerment Foundation (APBEF)
6. Amaclare Connect & Development Initiative
7. Anchor to Help Organisation.
8. Anglican Compassion and Development Initiative (ACADI)
9. Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP)
10. Association for Public Health Education and Legal Research Documentation in Nigeria (APHELRDiN)
11. Awo- Omamma Development Forum (ADF)
12. Bimbo Odukoya Foundation
13. BraveHeart Initiative
14. Center for Peace Education and Community Development
15. Centre for Accountability and Inclusive Development (CAAID)
16. Centre for Empowerment and Advocacy
17. Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA)
18. Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI)
19. Child Health Ogranization
20. Child Protection Network Lagos State Chapter
21. Children Impact and Development Initiative
22. Citizen Community Aid & Development Initiative
23. Community Life and Wellbeing Initiative
24. Community Resilience Accountability -Tracking Empowerment Initiative (CreATE-i)
25. Council for Affirmative Action (COFAA)
26. CSO Accountability and Transparency Initiative Ltd/Gte (CATI)
27. DEVATOP Centre for Africa’s Development
28. Disabilities Awareness Welfare Development and Rights Initiative (DAWDRIN) Incorporated
29. Disability Law Advocate Project (DLAP)
30. Echoes of women in Africa
31. Eden Edu Care Foundation Nigeria
32. Egbema Clean and Green Initiative
33. Eje Ajuaga Foundation
34. Eminent Emerging Entrepreneur Foundation (EEEF)
35. Equity Sustainable Development Initiative
36. Ethics and Corporate Compliance Institute of Nigeria
37. Exquisite Youth Empowerment Initiative
38. Flood and Erosion Control Advocacy Initiative (FECAI)
39. Food Basket Foundation International (FBF)
40. Forum of Delta State NGOs
41. Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) Nigeria
42. Gender Advocacy for Justice Initiative (GAJI)
43. Gender Development Initiative
44. Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (GPSDC)
45. Girl Child Art Foundation
46. Godiya Golden Empowerment Initiative (GGEI)
47. Gutul’s Annual Lecture Initiative and Empowerment (Gutul’s Foundation)
48. Health Standard Concern Organization (HESCO)
49. HEDA Resource Centre
50. Hedge Empowerment Foundation (HEF)
51. Help Me to Succeed Foundation
52. Helps For All International Foundation
53. Human Right Advancement Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC)
54. Initiative for Social Development in Africa (ISODAF)
55. Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF)
56. Inspired Generation Leadership Initiative (IGLI)
57. Institute for Medical and Health Law (IMHL)
58. International Centre for Women Empowerment and Child Development (ICWECD)
59. International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria
60. International Peace and Civil Responsibility Centre (IPCRC)
61. Isaac and Patience Olugbuo Foundation (IPOF)
62. Jemissanna Peace and Community Development
63. Jewel Health and Development Initiative (JEHDI)
64. Jomurota Community Care Center
65. Kollaborative Development Empowerment and Entrepreneurship (Kode-E)
66. Koslivia Development Initiative (KODI)
67. Lawyers Alert
68. Marypearl Initiative for Youth and Family
69. Mawumadoka Children Foundation
70. Mirabel Centre
71. Mowalek Center for Sustainable Community Development
72. Nde Oduko Foundation
73. Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria
74. Next Generation Youth Initiative International (NeGYI)
75. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
76. Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum (NBAWF)
77. Olufuson Media
78. Onyedinma Foundation.
79. Parallax Creative Youth Foundation
80. Partnership for Justice
81. Peace Education and Practice Network (PEPNET)
82. Project Alert on Violence Against Women (Project Alert)
83. Regale Initiative for Community Health and Social Development (RICH-SD) Nigeria
84. Rhema Care Integrated Development Centre (RCIDC)
85. Rosyetta Community Support Foundation (Recsf)
86. Rural Engagement and Development Foundation (RED Foundation
87. Rural Health Mission Nigeria
88. SBM Intelligence
89. SHEROS Foundation
90. Show Care Foundation (SCF)
91. Speak Out Africa Initiative (SOAI)
92. Stellar Community Impact Development Initiative S-CIDI
93. Stop The Girl Child Discrimination Foundation
94. The Inclusion Project (TIP)
95. The Meluibe Empowerment Foundation
96. Theios Caregivers Initiative.
97. Tora Community Care Initiative
98. Trees on Earth Development Foundation
99. Triple Justice Foundation (TJF)
100. Wake – Women and Youth Empowerment and Development Initiative.
101. West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Nigeria
102. Wellness Africa Foundation
103. West African NGO Network (WANGONET)
104. Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
105. Women Africa
106. Women and Girls with Albinism Network (WGWAN)
107. Women and Youths Environmental Safety and Empowerment Organization
108. Women Assist Foundation
109. Women Information Network (WINET) Enugu
110. Women of Inestimable Values Foundation
111. Women Support Women Community Network (WOSCONET)
112. Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL)
113. Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
114. Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiative (YSADI)
115. Youth For Change Initiative (YOFCI)
