As Nigeria joins the rest of the world in commemorating Safe Motherhood Day 2025 under the theme *“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,”* the country is celebrating significant progress in maternal health, driven by expanded access to family planning (FP) and childbirth spacing services across several states.
At the forefront of this progress is The Challenge Initiative (TCI) reproductive health model empowering local governments to sustainably scale proven family planning solutions. Since its launch in 2017, TCI has partnered with over a dozen Nigerian states, focusing on both urban and underserved rural areas to ensure no woman is left behind.
“Safe motherhood starts before the first contraction it begins with informed choices, timely access to family planning, and a community that supports women at every step of their reproductive journey,” said Dr. Taiwo Johnson, Country Team Lead for TCI Nigeria. “What we are seeing in Nigeria today is a bold move from awareness to action.”
TCI was developed to build on the success of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), transitioning from externally driven projects to state-owned initiatives that scale impact through policy ownership, resource mobilization, and community engagement.
Across implementing states, progress is visible. Health facilities report increased client trust, youth-centered services are expanding, and male involvement in family planning conversations is growing. Even in fragile, humanitarian settings, family planning is being integrated into maternal healthcare to ensure continued service delivery.
However, challenges remain. Access, quality, and equity gaps persist across different regions. Advocates stress the need for states to sustain momentum, address myths and misinformation, and extend services to marginalized communities.
“The path to safe motherhood is not just paved in hospitals. It starts with conversation, choice, and community support,” noted Onche Odeh,Project Lead at Development Communications Network.
Every year, thousands of Nigerian women die from pregnancy-related complications many of which are preventable. Experts say voluntary and culturally sensitive family planning can drastically reduce maternal deaths, improve newborn health outcomes, and contribute to stronger families and communities.
Looking forward, reproductive health stakeholders emphasize the importance of continued investment, political commitment, and grassroots action to reach every woman, man, and young person with the care they need.
As the 2025 theme suggests, healthy beginnings through timely birth spacing are essential for building hopeful futures. TCI’s approach is proving that when states lead, lives are saved and safe motherhood becomes not just a goal, but a reality.
