Bukola Afeni
The Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN) has called for increased investment in sexual and reproductive health services, stronger legal protections, and urgent action to address barriers affecting women and girls across Nigeria.
In a statement released to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, the network noted that the annual celebration provides an important opportunity to highlight the realities affecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls around the world.
According to the group, ongoing conflicts across Europe, the Middle East and parts of Africa, as well as rising insecurity in Nigeria, have significantly worsened access to healthcare for vulnerable populations including women, children and the elderly.
“These crises, the network said, have contributed to declining health outcomes and reduced life expectancy for many women.
NRHJN also raised concerns about reduced funding for family planning commodities and contraceptives in developing countries following shifts in international development funding.
The group noted that the withdrawal of support from key global funding mechanisms by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has affected major international organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which play vital roles in supporting reproductive health programmes in Africa.
With the 2026 IWD theme, “Give to Gain,” the network urged Nigerians to challenge myths and misconceptions surrounding contraception and family planning, while promoting bodily autonomy and informed consent for women of reproductive age.
“As an SRHR-focused group, we call on Nigerians to reassess prevailing narratives around family planning and encourage open discussions about reproductive health.
“Short conversations with nurses, midwives, survivors of gender-based violence, policy advocates, or women living with HIV can help humanise and normalise these important issues”, the group said.
The network stressed that enabling women to make informed decisions about their bodies and reproductive journey is essential for Nigeria’s sustainable development.
NRHJN also called for increased investment in reproductive health services, including maternal healthcare, family planning programmes, safe motherhood initiatives, and adolescent reproductive health education.
” Such investments would help reduce preventable maternal deaths, improve child survival rates, and enhance the wellbeing of families nationwide.
In addition, the group urged stakeholders to dismantle structural barriers that hinder equal justice for women and girls. ” These include discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, harmful social norms, and practices that undermine women’s rights.”
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the network joined other advocacy groups in demanding the creation of 74 additional dedicated seats for women in the National Assembly through the proposed “Special Seats for Women Bill.”
The proposal seeks to address the severe underrepresentation of women in Nigeria’s legislature, where women currently occupy only 19 of the 469 seats in the 10th National Assembly approximately four percent.
The statement also highlighted the need to implement the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications (STOP) across all states in Nigeria. The guidelines were introduced in 2018 to address preventable maternal deaths linked to unsafe abortions.
Former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, in his foreword to the guidelines, noted that an estimated 1.25 million induced abortions occurred in Nigeria in 2012, representing about 33 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–49 years.
“The data also showed that approximately 212,000 women were treated for complications arising from unsafe abortions, while an additional 285,000 women experienced serious health consequences without receiving the treatment they required.”
The network emphasized that implementing the guidelines would help prevent avoidable deaths and ensure that women receive the appropriate care at the right time.
NRHJN further underscored the critical role of the media in advancing women’s rights and reproductive health awareness.
According to the group, journalists play a vital role in amplifying women’s voices, raising public awareness, and holding policymakers accountable for decisions that affect women’s health and dignity.
“In the spirit of ‘Give to Gain,’ we urge governments, development partners, civil society organisations and community leaders to prioritize policies and programmes that protect women’s rights, expand access to reproductive healthcare services, and create opportunities for women to lead and thrive”.
The Network reaffirmed its commitment to utilizing journalism as a tool to advocate for the health, dignity and rights of women and girls across Nigeria.
