MTN, Gates Foundation invest $25 million in Nigeria maternal health, target 500,000 women

MTN Group Foundation and the Gates Foundation have committed approximately $25 million to a four-year initiative aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s maternal healthcare system through artificial intelligence, mobile technology and improved connectivity.

The partnership, announced on September 22, 2026, will launch the Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, a digital health platform designed to connect pregnant women, frontline health workers and primary healthcare facilities.

By 2030, the initiative aims to help 500,000 women access trusted maternal health guidance, equip 5,000 frontline health workers with tools to identify pregnancy and childbirth complications early, and support 500 health facilities in delivering more consistent, higher-quality care.

MTN and Gates target healthcare access gaps

The initiative combines MTN’s telecommunications infrastructure and digital inclusion capabilities with the Gates Foundation’s expertise in maternal and child health, digital health innovation and responsible artificial intelligence.

Its three main components include AI-enabled, phone-based decision-support tools for mothers and healthcare workers, affordable smartphones and mobile data for pregnant women, and improved connectivity at primary healthcare facilities.

The programme is intended to complement Nigeria’s existing maternal and child health reforms, particularly the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, which is being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Health under its Sector-Wide Approach.

The initial investment, comprising direct and in-kind contributions from both organisations between 2026 and 2030, is expected to attract additional funding and support potential expansion into other markets.

Nigeria selected as launch market

Nigeria’s maternal health challenges provide the backdrop for the initiative. According to figures cited by the partners, the country accounts for nearly 30% of maternal deaths globally, while only 59% of women complete at least four antenatal care visits. The organisations said the gaps in access to timely information, healthcare services and follow-up support make Nigeria a critical market for the programme’s initial implementation.

Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said the country’s challenge often lies not in a lack of innovation but in the foundational systems required to support adoption.

Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, welcomed the partnership, noting that strengthening primary healthcare and empowering frontline workers remain central to the country’s health reforms. MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said the initiative would use AI to deliver trusted, locally relevant health information to mothers and healthcare professionals in accessible formats and languages.

Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, said philanthropic funding could help ensure that the benefits of AI reach communities that might otherwise be excluded from emerging technologies.

Digital infrastructure underpins expansion

Launched in 1994, MTN Group is a leading digital operator focused on advancing Africa’s digital progress. Its independent, pan-African MTN Group Foundation bridges the digital divide through technology, partnerships and innovation. The Gates Foundation, based in Seattle, Washington, works globally to improve health and opportunity, and is led by CEO Mark Suzman under Bill Gates and its governing board.

The partnership was announced at Semafor’s Next 3 Billion event in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

By combining connectivity, devices, mobile data and AI-enabled health tools, MTN and the Gates Foundation aim to demonstrate a model that could support maternal and child health services beyond Nigeria.