Posted on: Mon 07-07-2025

Nigeria stands at a crucial crossroads in its pursuit of better health outcomes for its citizens. Despite being one of Africa’s largest economies, the nation grapples with a deeply troubled healthcare system. Every day, nearly one in 25 Nigerian women faces the stark risk of dying during childbirth. With maternal mortality rates as high as 993 deaths per 100,000 live births—accounting for almost 20% of maternal deaths globally—the urgency for transformative action cannot be overstated.

For decades, Nigeria’s health sector has struggled under the weight of underfunding, limited infrastructure, and a severe shortage of skilled health workers. Government health spending remains dismally low at just about 6% of the national budget, far short of the 15% target set by African Union leaders in 2001. With as few as four doctors per 10,000 people and public health spending of only S6 to S10 per person each year, the gaps in care are glaring. Half of all births occur outside of health facilities, and contraceptive use lingers at a mere 18%. Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 is not just an aspirational target for Nigeria—it is a national necessity.

In response to this crisis, the Nigerian government has laid out a bold vision through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal and Investment Initiative (NHSRII). With the rallying cry of “One Plan, One Voice, One Goal”, this strategy seeks to unite government agencies, civil society, development partners, and notably, the private sector. The NHSRII rests on four strategic pillars: effective governance, efficient and equitable health systems, unlocking the health value chain, and ensuring health security. What sets this plan apart is its deliberate embrace of a whole-of-society approach—recognising that public resources alone cannot deliver health for all.

Indeed, the private sector has moved from the periphery to the forefront of Nigeria’s health transformation. Companies across industries—pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, banking, logistics, and technology—are stepping up to bridge systemic gaps, drive innovation, and finance health solutions. The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) stands as a powerful example. At the height of the pandemic, this private sector-led alliance mobilised over N39 billion (about S100 million), establishing more than 100 isolation and treatment centres, delivering 1,000 new ICU beds, and contributing to a notable reduction in hospital mortality rates.

Beyond national emergencies, the private sector is reshaping health delivery at the community level. In underserved regions, community pharmacies and Proprietary Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) are often the first point of contact for care. Through a pioneering three-tier accreditation model—developed by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria in collaboration with partners like the Society for Family Health—these providers have been trained and supervised to offer safer, more reliable services. This initiative, now active in 11 states, has reached over 700,000 women, prevented thousands of unintended pregnancies, improved child health outcomes, and contributed to the fight against tuberculosis.

State-level success stories further highlight the potential of public-private partnerships. In Delta State, a collaboration between the government, PharmAccess Foundation, and private providers revitalised 15 previously non-functional primary health centres. By combining private investment with guaranteed payments through state-backed insurance, these centres achieved zero maternal deaths and dramatically reduced child mortality—proof that well-designed partnerships can deliver life-saving results.

Nationally, initiatives like the Private Sector Health Alliance’s Adopt-A-Healthcare-Facility Programme (ADHFP) aim to replicate such successes on a grander scale. With 215 primary health centres already adopted and 52 refurbished, the programme has significantly increased antenatal care attendance, skilled birth deliveries, and immunisation coverage in participating communities.

Yet, while these examples inspire hope, they also highlight the need for scale. The path forward is clear: Nigeria must accelerate community-based initiatives, formalise more public-private partnerships, and harness digital technologies for smarter health decisions. Most importantly, health must become a core priority not only for the government but also for every company that benefits from a healthy, productive population.

Ultimately, investing in health is not merely an act of corporate responsibility or government duty—it is a shared national imperative. The prosperity of Nigeria depends on the well-being of its people, particularly the women who give life and nurture future generations. By uniting public ambition with private sector ingenuity and commitment, Nigeria can build a health system that leaves no one behind—a system where every woman survives childbirth, every child thrives, and every family has access to the care they need to live with dignity and hope.

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