- Amaechi said his administration paid pregnant women N10,000 for antenatal care
- He said the policy helped increase attendance at rural health centres
- He urged leaders to prioritise women’s health, education and economic empowerment
The African Democratic Congress presidential running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, has recalled introducing a N10,000 incentive for pregnant women attending antenatal care during his tenure as governor of Rivers State.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Amaechi disclosed this on Tuesday at the Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa 2026 in Abuja, where he spoke about the importance of improving women’s health and strengthening their economic participation.
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The former governor said Rivers State faced a serious maternal and child health challenge during his administration, having been ranked among the states with the highest maternal and child mortality rates.
He explained that his administration responded by establishing health centres in rural communities and employing medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, to provide healthcare services closer to residents.
Amaechi said pregnant women who attended antenatal care were also given N10,000 as an incentive, a policy he said significantly increased attendance at the health facilities.
According to him, some women were initially attracted by the financial incentive rather than healthcare itself, but the programme encouraged them to regularly access medical services during pregnancy.
He said the experience demonstrated that healthcare interventions could also have an economic impact, particularly for women in rural communities.
Amaechi further argued that women’s health could not be separated from broader economic development, noting that a significant proportion of Nigerian women are involved in agriculture and other economic activities.
He called on political leaders to pay greater attention to women’s welfare by improving access to healthcare and education.
The ADC chieftain also stressed the importance of educating women, arguing that better access to education would strengthen their ability to participate in leadership and contribute meaningfully to society.
Amaechi maintained that government policies should address women’s healthcare needs while also creating economic opportunities that would improve their living standards.
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