Nigeria Launches Scholarships for 30 Female Medical Students

Thirty young women across Nigeria just got the opportunity to become the doctors their country desperately needs.

The Built for Her Foundation launched Saturday in Abuja with scholarships for female medical students from all six regions of Nigeria. The program partners with the Nigerian Medical Students' Association to address a striking reality: Nigerian women spend nine more years living with illness than men, largely because healthcare systems weren't designed with them in mind.

Founder Teniola Saraki pointed to sobering statistics that show why this matters. Nigeria loses one mother to pregnancy complications every seven minutes, accounting for 29% of global maternal deaths in 2023. More than 7,000 Nigerian women died from cervical cancer that same year, a disease that's almost entirely preventable through screening, yet fewer than 11% of Nigerian women have ever been screened.

The connection between these deaths and female doctors is clear. Research shows women seek care earlier, share health concerns more openly, and stick to treatment plans when treated by female healthcare providers. Yet women represent just over a third of Nigeria's physicians, and many leave the profession due to financial pressure and lack of support.

Dr. Zainab Mohammad-Idris, National President of the Medical Women's Association, explained that women doctors bring more than clinical skills. They shape policy, lead research, and build healthcare systems that actually work for half the population. When they're missing from leadership, health systems lose the empathy and insight needed to create effective, inclusive care.

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond individual patients. A 2024 McKinsey Health Institute analysis found that closing the gender health gap could prevent tens of millions of disability-adjusted life years lost annually worldwide. Women's health conditions often present differently than in men and are frequently misdiagnosed because most clinical trials historically excluded female participants.

Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, noted that the country is already seeing a 17% reduction in maternal deaths in targeted areas through focused health reforms. The foundation's scholarship program fits directly into the government's Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which prioritizes women's health and aims to dramatically cut maternal and child mortality rates.

The Built for Her Foundation plans to work on five fronts: improving health data that includes women, conducting research with female participants, delivering responsive health services, including women in healthcare decisions, and investing in women's leadership. Each pillar addresses a specific gap that currently costs lives.

These 30 scholarships represent more than tuition payments—they're investments in healthcare providers who will understand their patients' needs, advocate for better policies, and train the next generation of doctors to see women's health as central, not optional.