The federal government has introduced an ambitious nationwide plan to revolutionize women’s health, spearheaded by Dr. Adanna Steinacker, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health. This strategy is designed to promote gender equality through a combination of data analytics, cutting-edge technology, and sound financial management.
Named RenewHER (Renew Health Equity and Reform), the initiative was officially launched at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja on Thursday evening. Vice President Kashim Shettima, acting on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led the unveiling alongside key figures from the health sector, governance, and development organizations.
During the event, the Women’s Health Digital Media and Communications Hub was also inaugurated. This platform will function as a national forum for advocacy and storytelling, amplifying women’s perspectives, highlighting innovative solutions, and maintaining dialogue around six critical focus areas: maternal, newborn, and child health; sexual and reproductive health; adolescent health and menstrual equity; nutrition and preventive care; healthcare workforce and accessibility; and coalition building.
The launch ceremony featured a presidential keynote speech, the debut of the RenewHER campaign film, a cultural performance, the Health Innovator Awards, and a symbolic National Pledge Moment aimed at rallying widespread support for the program.
In an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, Dr. Adanna Steinacker described RenewHER as “a nationwide initiative to reshape the future of women’s health and economic empowerment in Nigeria.” She emphasized that the program will leverage digital technologies, community involvement, and policy reforms to achieve tangible outcomes.
Addressing attendees, Dr. Steinacker pointed out that women in Nigeria and globally continue to face significant disparities in key development metrics. She referenced United Nations statistics indicating that, if current trends continue, gender equality may not be realized for over 120 years. This stark reality motivated the president to establish the Office on Women’s Health, underscoring that empowering women is both a social necessity and an economic strategy. “Investing in women’s health is an economic imperative. Healthy women contribute more productively, children remain in school longer, communities prosper, and national GDP increases,” she stated.
Regarding the initiative’s anticipated impact, Dr. Steinacker revealed that the Women’s Health Nigeria Digital Hub, a flagship project of the office, aims to engage over 100 million Nigerians within three years through health education, advocacy, and campaigns designed to counter misinformation and encourage proactive health behaviors. She noted that specific targets for localized campaigns will be tailored according to regional and community needs.
Key collaborators include the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), and the Women in Healthcare Network (WIHCN). These partnerships will also facilitate economic empowerment for women through initiatives such as digital wallets, microgrants, nigeria-animation-industry-billion-dollar-potential/” title=”How …'s Animation Industry Could Become a Billion-Dollar Goldmine”>skills development, and support for women-led innovations.
Participants at the launch unanimously agreed that prioritizing women’s health is essential for national progress and called for ongoing cooperation among government bodies, private enterprises, and civil society organizations to ensure sustainable and meaningful impact.
