Stakeholders in reproductive health have advised that safe motherhood should begin with smart and informed choices to celebrate gains in family planning across states of the federation.
In a statement issued to mark Safe Motherhood Day 2025, under the theme, “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”, the country team lead of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria, Dr. Taiwo Johnson, said that 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”, he said.
Dr. Johnson, who said that the TCI works in partnership with some state governments in areas of family planning activities, added that, “What we are seeing in Nigeria today is a bold move from awareness to action, from promises to programmes that truly save lives”.
“There’s now policy, progress and state-by-state success stories across Nigeria. States are translating family planning commitments into visible progress. Through government leadership, community engagement, youth-centred services, and strategic partnerships, there are growing signs of impact. Health facilities are experiencing increased client trust, local governments are mobilizing resources to reach more communities, and advocacy efforts are helping to reshape public perceptions—particularly through youth engagement, male involvement, and outreach to underserved populations. Even in complex humanitarian settings, family planning is being integrated with maternal health services, ensuring continuity of care”, he said.
However, the TCI country team lead said that despite the encouraging gains, much more remains to be done, adding that progress is not yet uniform, and gaps in access, quality, and equity persist.
“All implementing states must sustain momentum by strengthening service delivery, expanding access to marginalized groups, and addressing lingering myths and barriers.
“To truly fulfill the promise of reproductive health and rights for all, no one can be left behind. Continued investment, political will, and community-driven action are critical to ensuring that family planning services reach every woman, man, and young person who needs them—no matter where they live.
“A new standard of care for mothers and newborns:
Every year, Nigeria loses thousands of women to pregnancy-related complications — many of which are preventable through proper spacing and voluntary family planning. TCI’s impact shows that when women have access to safe, affordable, and culturally appropriate FP services, maternal mortality drops, newborn outcomes improve, and families thrive.
“The path to safe motherhood is not just paved in hospitals. It starts with conversation, choice, and community support,” says Onche Odeh, Project lead at Development Communications Network.
“Looking ahead: Hope Made Real As the 2025 theme emphasizes, “Healthy Beginnings” — like timely birth spacing — are key to unlocking “Hopeful Futures.”
TCI’s support has proven that states can lead their own reproductive health transformations. With growing political will, sustainable funding, and grassroots engagement, Nigeria is closer than ever to making safe motherhood not just a goal — but a guarantee.
TCI was launched in 2017 to transition the gains of NURHI into a platform that empowers state governments to take ownership, scale up proven interventions, and drive impact across more states — with an expanded reach that now includes both urban and underserved rural areas.