MTN and Gates Foundation Launch AI-Powered Maternal Health Platform in Nigeria to Aid 500,000 Women

MTN Group Foundation and the Gates Foundation have partnered to introduce an AI-enabled maternal health platform in Nigeria, targeting 500,000 women with healthcare guidance by 2030. This four-year initiative, named the Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, will also equip 5,000 frontline health workers with digital tools to identify complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and support 500 health facilities across the country.

The collaboration represents an initial investment of approximately $25 million from both organizations between 2026 and 2030. The platform will integrate AI-powered, phone-based decision-support tools with access to affordable smartphones and mobile data for pregnant women, alongside connected devices for health workers to provide real-time guidance and detect warning signs. Improved connectivity in participating primary healthcare facilities is also a key component, ensuring equitable access to digital health services.

The program builds on Nigeria’s existing Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and is designed to complement government maternal and child health programs. Nigeria was chosen as the inaugural market due to its significant maternal health challenges, where only 59% of women complete four or more antenatal care visits. This initiative aims to bridge critical gaps in support throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period, especially in underserved communities.

Nigerian officials, including the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, have lauded the partnership as a prime example of how digital transformation can be effectively applied to healthcare. The Gates Foundation is developing AI tools specifically for Nigerian mothers and health workers to enhance health information accessibility, leveraging MTN's extensive connectivity infrastructure, mobile financial services, and device distribution networks. This Nigerian model could potentially be expanded to other African markets in the future.