By Prosper Mene
Former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has asked female lawyers in Nigeria to take the government to court over the high number of women dying during childbirth.
Speaking yesterday at the opening of the 2025 FIDA Week organised by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Akure, Mimiko said every maternal death is a violation of womenโs rights.
โNigeria loses too many mothers. This must stop. Female lawyers should use the law to force the government to act,โ he said.
Nigeria has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the world. More than 1,000 women die for every 100,000 live births. That means about 22 women die every day because of pregnancy or childbirth problems.
Mimiko, a medical doctor, once reduced maternal deaths in Ondo State by over 70% when he was governor. He told the lawyers to copy what happened in Uganda, where a court forced the government to improve maternal health services after a lawsuit.
He also asked lawmakers to pass the bill that will reserve seats for women in the National Assembly so that more women can make laws that protect mothers.
FIDA Nigeria President, Amina Bello, promised that members will start filing cases and pushing for better health services for pregnant women.
The week-long event continues in Akure with training on how lawyers can help reduce maternal deaths.
