In the quiet corners of Ekiti’s rural communities, something remarkable is taking root. Women who once travelled miles to under-equipped health centres or risked childbirth at home now speak with relief and hope. Men, once passive observers in maternal health, are being drawn into the circle of care. Behind these changes is a new model, quietly transforming lives across all 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State.
The programme is called EMBRACE, an acronym for Ekiti Maternal and Birth Response for Accessible Care and Equity, and it is fast becoming a national reference point.
EMBRACE was shaped through years of research, field experience, and a determined response to troubling maternal health indicators. The idea began as part of the State’s broader maternal health reforms, which gained media and public recognition in 2021 for their community-driven design. But it was the synergy between clinical leadership and sociological expertise that gave the programme its present form. Dr Samuel
Oluwagbemiga Omotoso, the Chief Medical Director at the General Adeyinka Adebayo General Hospital, and Mrs. Tolulope Ojo, a senior health sociologist, are the duo behind its architecture. Thanks to its adoption by the Honourable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; together, they shaped EMBRACE as a medical intervention as well as a policy tool and community empowerment strategy.
A major turning point in the evolution of EMBRACE was the Ekiti State Stakeholders’ Policy Roundtable on Maternal Health System Reform, held on March 2, 2022 at the Governor’s Office Annex in Ado-Ekiti. This event brought together high-ranking government officials, healthcare administrators, community leaders, and international development partners including UNICEF, UNFPA, and USAID. Of particular attendance were the governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, permanent secretaries of relevant ministries and others.
At the heart of the Roundtable were a set of white paper presentations that would ultimately define the intellectual and operational foundation of what is now known as EMBRACE. Notably among them was Ojo’s white paper which emphasized the integration of local cultural contexts, task-shifting for trained community health workers, mobile access units, and feedback-driven governance. Her presentation advocated for legislative reforms, budget transparency, and the institutional inclusion of social scientists in health policy planning. “What we seek to do is beyond replicating previous interventions. We are advancing a new generation of maternal health programming that listens to women, engages communities, and brings research into the heart of policy.” Ojo remarked during her position paper presentation which was adopted for the programme.
For many families, the results are personal. Ronke Ajayi from Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA still remembers her first delivery under EMBRACE. “Before now, I had to deliver at home. It was risky and lonely. But this time, the mobile clinic came to us. I felt safe,” she said, her voice trembling with gratitude. Aina
Olabisi in Ikole had a similar experience. “They explained everything to me; when to go to the clinic, and what to expect. It was the first time I felt like the health system was made for people like us.”
The programme is far-reaching in scope, designed to reach over 3.2 million residents, including those in the state’s most remote areas. From mobile clinics and outreach campaigns to birth attendant training and infrastructure upgrades, the scale of EMBRACE is matched only by its attention to the social fabric. Community ownership is central to its success. Men, traditional leaders, and local health volunteers have all been involved from the start.
Experts are already taking note. Norma Meras Swenson, an Affiliate of the Women Gender & Sexuality program at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts & Sciences, and a member of the group on Reproductive Health and Rights at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies in the United States, who served on advisory role for the program, described EMBRACE as “a brilliant example of what happens when social science and clinical care are not at odds but working hand in hand.” The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health has called the initiative a “model of excellence in sub-national public health governance.” The EMBRACE initiative represents a model of excellence in sub-national public health governance,” said Dr. Fatai Ogunleyi, Director of Reproductive Health at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health. “What we are witnessing in Ekiti is an evidence-based, community-driven intervention that has successfully aligned local realities with national health priorities. It stands out for its integration of sociological research, medical strategy, and government coordination. We are actively studying its framework for potential replication in other regions, especially in underserved northern states.”
Two other states: Kaduna and Borno, have formally expressed interest in adapting the EMBRACE framework. “We are adopting the EMBRACE model for Kaduna,” said Hajiya Ahmed, Commissioner for Health. “It’s not just effective, it’s relevant to the challenges we face in Northern Nigeria.” Alhaji Ibrahim Modibbo in Borno echoed this sentiment, noting that he had already presented the programme to his cabinet for consideration.
What began as a local response is now setting the pace nationally. Supported by partners such as UNFPA, USAID, and UNICEF, EMBRACE is under review for inclusion in global case studies on maternal health. For Ojo and Omotoso, this is only the beginning. “This is not a project to us,” said Ojo. “It is a commitment to the future. We are not just serving women; we are changing systems.”
Indeed, in Ekiti State today, maternal health beyond abstract statistics, has become a shared responsibility, and a story of what is possible when leadership, data, and community wisdom come together with a shared purpose.
