Nigeria's development blueprint for the next five years places maternal health at the center of national progress. The government aims to cut maternal deaths from 512 to 300 per 100,000 live births by 2025.
This target sits within a bigger vision. Nigeria has committed to the global "Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths" initiative, which targets just 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
But statistics mask human tragedy. Behind each number is a pregnant woman fighting daily for survival without adequate nutrition or healthcare.
Their stories rarely reach policy makers. Yet their resilience, and that of health workers supporting them, shapes the real battle on the ground.
Winning this fight requires two things: money and access to nutrition. Multiple micronutrient supplements are critical—they fight iron and folate deficiencies that claim mothers' lives.
According to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Nigeria still records 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Progress remains elusive.
Children face an equally devastating crisis. Nigeria ranks second globally for stunted children, behind only India.
About 32 to 34 per cent of Nigerian children under five are stunted, according to joint estimates by UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank. That's roughly 14 million kids.
Severe acute malnutrition affects about two million children. These aren't abstract numbers—they represent a cascading emergency.
Yet hope exists in unexpected places. Nigerian-led coalitions are building solutions from within their own communities, pushing real change forward.
A recent visit to Kaduna State revealed the depth of this grassroots momentum. Civil society organizations are stepping up where government gaps remain.
CS-SUNN—the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria alliance—coordinates efforts across the nutrition sector. Over 400 civil society groups, media outlets, academics and development partners are part of it.
The Gates Foundation and government stakeholders sit at the same table. Their shared goal: stronger nutrition policies and better funding.
CS-SUNN's Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems works across five states. Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, and Lagos are its priority areas.
State governments, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders collaborate under this umbrella. They're driving reforms to improve nutrition outcomes at grassroots level.
Planning and budgeting systems have been strengthened. Digital tracking now allows real-time monitoring of progress.
A major win: 24 state food and nutrition committees that had gone dormant are now active again. These bodies coordinate nutrition action across government levels.
This revival matters enormously. Inactive committees mean no one's watching implementation or holding officials accountable.
Change is happening—but it remains fragile. Sustained financing and political will must match the commitment already being shown on the ground.
