OAU Researcher Wins $5m Gates Foundation Grant to Cut Maternal Deaths in Nigeria by 60%
A researcher at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor Ibraheem O. Awowole, has secured a US$5 million grant from the Gates Foundation. The funding will support a three-year project aimed at reducing Maternal Deaths in Nigeria by 60 per cent.
The project is called Pregnancy Risk Stratification Innovations in Maternal Health (PRIME). It will be led by OAU and implemented in seven Nigerian states. These are Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe and Jigawa.
The initiative will involve several partners. They include Jhpiego, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the ministries of health in the participating states.
Tackling Maternal Deaths in Nigeria
Maternal deaths remain a major public health concern in Nigeria. The project announcement identifies the country as accounting for about a quarter of maternal deaths worldwide.
Many of these deaths are linked to complications that may be prevented or managed when detected early. PRIME aims to improve how health workers identify pregnant women who face a high risk of complications.
The project will pay particular attention to early screening for conditions such as pre-eclampsia. This condition can cause dangerously high blood pressure during pregnancy. It can lead to serious complications for both the mother and her baby if not detected and managed promptly.
Supporting Early Detection and Better Pregnancy Care
PRIME will focus on helping frontline health workers identify pregnant women who need closer monitoring and medical care. It will provide them with simple, evidence-based tools to assess pregnancy risks.
Early identification can help health workers act before a condition becomes life-threatening. Women identified as being at high risk can receive:
- closer monitoring
- further assessment
- appropriate treatment
The project aims to make risk assessment more effective across the seven participating states. If successful, it could help health facilities improve pregnancy care and prevent deaths linked to serious complications, a step towards fewer Maternal Deaths in Nigeria.
OAU Celebrates the Research Grant
OAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire, described the grant as an example of how university research can address important national challenges.
He said the funding showed what could happen when a researcher takes the lead in tackling a national problem. He also expressed the university’s pride in a project that began in Ile-Ife and could influence maternal healthcare across the participating states and beyond.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development, Professor Akanni Akinyemi, also welcomed the development. He said the university had a responsibility to support researchers whose work turns evidence into practical results.
According to him, research should produce tangible benefits that reach people and improve their lives.
Importance of Screening for Pre-eclampsia
The Provost of OAU’s College of Health Sciences, Professor Bernice Adegbehingbe, stressed the importance of early detection in preventing deaths associated with pre-eclampsia.
She noted that some women who die from the condition might have survived if their risks had been identified earlier. She said PRIME would help frontline health workers recognise women who require closer attention and care.
Adegbehingbe also thanked the Gates Foundation for supporting the project. She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to implementing the initiative.
OAU has congratulated Awowole and his research team on securing the grant. The university has also pledged its support for the project.
What the Project Could Mean for Nigeria
The PRIME project could strengthen maternal healthcare by improving the way pregnancy risks are identified and managed. Its implementation across seven states could also provide useful evidence for improving care in other parts of Nigeria.
However, the proposed 60 per cent reduction in Maternal Deaths in Nigeria remains a project target. The announcement does not provide a baseline, a detailed measurement framework or a timeline for assessing the result.
The project's success will depend on effective implementation, access to appropriate care and the ability of health facilities to respond when risks are identified.
The US$5 million grant represents a major investment in research and maternal health. If PRIME achieves its objectives, it could help protect more pregnant women and improve pregnancy outcomes in Nigeria.
