Tinubu Launches RenewHER Initiative to Tackle Maternal Mortality and Empower Women

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched RenewHER, the Presidential Women’s Health Transformation Initiative, aimed at reducing maternal mortality and improving the overall well-being of women across Nigeria.

The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, unveiled the initiative on Thursday night during a Gala and Awards Ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.

Describing RenewHER as a national priority and “an answer to one of the nation’s most critical prayers,” President Tinubu emphasized the importance of maternal health to Nigeria’s development.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the President said, “There is no greater test of a nation’s character than the care it extends to its women. Maternal health is the heartbeat of every family, the compass of social stability, and the truest index of national welfare.”

He explained that RenewHER would serve as the central platform for collaboration among all stakeholders, driving efforts toward a healthier Nigeria.

A new Presidential Focal Office on Women’s Health will coordinate with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the State Wide Approach Coordination Office (SWAp), and the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to mainstream women’s health priorities nationwide.

The President also announced the establishment of a national digital platform powered by artificial intelligence. This Women’s Health Digital Hub will deliver geo-targeted campaigns focused on maternal survival, adolescent health, preventive care, and the strengthening of the healthcare workforce.

According to Tinubu, the hub will connect women and families to trusted health information while linking healthcare delivery to economic empowerment and national prosperity.

“Maternal mortality is a shame against which we must all rally. We owe every girl child not just the eloquent promise of a better tomorrow but the certainty of a healthier one,” he said, noting that RenewHER would complement existing efforts such as the MAMII programme, in partnership with international organizations.

Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum, pledged the forum’s full support for the RenewHER initiative in all states of the federation. She said the programme demonstrates the administration’s strong commitment to both the health and empowerment of women.

In her opening remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, Dr. Adanna Steinacker, said the programme was born from President Tinubu’s vision to elevate women’s health to a national priority. She called on stakeholders to unite in “one movement aimed at renewing Nigeria’s future.”

The Country Representative of UN Women in Nigeria, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, described the initiative as a turning point and a bold move by the Nigerian government. She noted that it marks the first time women’s health has been placed at the highest level of policy as a catalyst for socio-economic growth. She assured that the UN would support efforts to expand access to healthcare for Nigerian women.

The event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Honorable Femi Gbajabiamila, wives of state governors, members of the diplomatic corps, and development partners.
Source:The Nation