I Paid Pregnant Women ₦10,000 To Attend Antenatal’ – Amaechi Reveals

Former Rivers State Governor and ADC presidential running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, has revealed that his administration introduced a ₦10,000 incentive for pregnant women who attended antenatal care as part of efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in the state.

Amaechi disclosed this while speaking at the ‘Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa 2026’ in Abuja on Tuesday, where he emphasised the need for stronger investment in women’s healthcare, education and economic empowerment.

According to Ireporter Online, Amaechi said Rivers State faced a serious maternal and child mortality challenge during his tenure, prompting his administration to establish healthcare centres across villages and recruit medical personnel.

He explained that the government employed doctors and nurses to provide healthcare services at the centres, while pregnant women who attended antenatal sessions received ₦10,000.

Amaechi said the incentive was designed to encourage expectant mothers to regularly visit health facilities, noting that many women initially attended primarily because of the financial benefit.

He recalled that the programme significantly increased attendance at the health centres, with facilities reportedly recording high turnout every Friday when the payments were made.

The former governor argued that improving women’s health requires more than medical intervention, stressing that economic conditions and access to education also play important roles.

Amaechi noted that a significant proportion of Nigerian women depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, making their economic wellbeing closely connected to the country’s overall development.

He further maintained that educating women was essential to producing stronger leaders and improving communities, urging political leaders to prioritise policies that promote women’s health, education and economic participation.