As the world marks International Women’s Day 2025 (IWD 2025), Sterling One Foundation has issued a call to action for urgent improvements in maternal health and women’s economic inclusion across Nigeria and Africa.
In a statement signed by Mr. Ifeoluwa Elegbede, Public Relations Officer of the foundation, the organization emphasized that despite progress, many women still face life-threatening risks during childbirth and economic exclusion that limits their independence and opportunities.
Maternal Health Crisis in Africa The foundation highlighted the alarming state of maternal health in Africa, noting that sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly 70% of all maternal deaths worldwide, with Nigeria among the highest contributors.
Despite global efforts, the region continues to struggle with limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate health infrastructure, and socioeconomic challenges that hinder sustainable progress.
To tackle these challenges, Sterling One Foundation, in partnership with the Maternal and Reproductive Health Research Collective, launched the Mamabase programme—a groundbreaking initiative that provides critical healthcare services, antenatal care, and education to expectant mothers at risk.
In 2024 alone, the Mamabase programme recorded 7,367 safe births, underscoring the impact of targeted maternal health interventions.
The foundation stressed the need for greater investment in healthcare systems to ensure more women have access to safe childbirth.
Economic Empowerment: A Key to Women’s Independence Sterling One Foundation also emphasized the importance of economic empowerment in addressing gender inequality.
In 2024, 1,200 women took significant steps toward financial independence, benefiting from training programs and psychosocial support provided through the foundation’s initiatives.
These efforts were made possible through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organisation (ITCILO), Women in Digital Business, the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office Nigeria, and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA).
Through these collaborations, women received practical skills, business tools, and resources to build sustainable livelihoods while ensuring their mental well-being remains a priority.
Tackling Gender-Based Violence Sterling One Foundation also remains committed to advocacy and intervention against gender-based violence.
Its CHATROOM campaign, which uses storytelling and interactive sessions to engage communities, reached over 1,500 participants across Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, and Gombe states in 2024.
The initiative has helped raise awareness and drive conversations that push for action against gender-based violence.
A Call for Collective Action Commenting on the urgency of addressing maternal health and gender-based violence, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO of Sterling One Foundation, emphasized that these issues are interconnected and must be tackled together.
“The barriers women face are not disconnected issues but part of a larger crisis of inequality. Too many Nigerian women are forced to choose between survival and opportunity.
“They face life-threatening risks in childbirth because healthcare remains out of reach, and they live in fear because justice is too often denied.
“We cannot continue to treat these issues in isolation. Access to safe delivery, economic inclusion, and protection from violence must all go hand in hand.
“Through Mamabase, our economic empowerment programs, and the CHATROOM campaign, we are ensuring that women do not just survive—but thrive.”
Sterling One Foundation urged all stakeholders to move beyond advocacy and commit to tangible investments that will significantly improve maternal health, economic empowerment, and the protection of women across Nigeria and Africa.
“The time to accelerate action is now,” the foundation stated.
