Two-Third of Nigerian Women Struggle's to Access Vital Health Supplies, Gates Foundation

New findings from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation reveal a steep decline in access to essential health commodities among Nigerian women, largely due to recent cuts in external aid.

Table of Contents

Key Insight: A Two-in-Three Crisis

At the 2025 Gender and Inclusion Summit hosted by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in Abuja, Ekanem Isichei, the Foundation’s Deputy Director of Programme Advocacy and Communications, sounded the alarm. He shared that:

Bilateral aid to Nigeria has dropped by 40%.
Funding for maternal and child health has plummeted by 67%.
As a result, two out of every three women who previously had access to essential health supplies are now without them—a major setback in health equity.

Isichei stressed that gender equality initiatives can’t remain lofty policy statements. He urged for real-world implementation, especially as 70% of Nigeria’s poorest citizens are women. Investing in women, he noted, fosters healthier families, stronger economies, and fairer societies.

A Glimmer of Progress

Despite these challenges, some states are leading by example:

Lagos and Kaduna have successfully localized the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy.
Kwara has enacted a 35% gender inclusion law and achieved 50% female representation in its cabinet.
Additionally, Imo, Ogun, and Ekiti now count female deputy governors among their leaders, and 10 states have adopted six-month maternity leave policies.

Summit Theme & Takeaway

The summit—titled “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating Inclusive Society”—brought together public officials, private sector players, and civil society actors to spotlight practical steps toward embedding gender inclusion as a catalyst for sustainable growth.

Latest Post