By Destiny Obinna
For thousands of Nigerian women, childbirth remains a journey marked by uncertainty, with preventable complications continuing to threaten the lives of mothers and newborns. Beyond the personal tragedies, poor access to quality maternal healthcare places an enormous burden on families and communities, making urgent and sustained intervention necessary.
As Nigeria grapples with its maternal and child health challenges, Optiva Capital Partners is extending its community engagement beyond financial services, investing in initiatives aimed at improving maternal care, supporting newborns and strengthening access to primary healthcare.
The company’s latest interventions, including a ₦5.8 million contribution to a maternal and childcare programme in Lagos and support for the ongoing rehabilitation of a primary healthcare centre, reflect an approach that links family wellbeing with broader community development.
Nigeria continues to bear a significant share of the global maternal and child health burden. According to figures cited in the supplied material, although Nigeria represents 2.4 per cent of the world’s population, it accounts for 10 per cent of global deaths among pregnant mothers. UNICEF figures cited in the material also indicate that malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea account for 64 per cent of under-five deaths in Nigeria.
For Optiva, whose core business focuses on helping individuals and families protect, grow and optimise their wealth, these challenges underscore the importance of looking beyond financial assets to the wellbeing of families and the communities in which they live, Amb. Amaka Okeke, Executive Director, Optiva Capital Partners said.
According to Okeke, a key expression of this commitment is Optiva’s ₦5.8 million contribution to the Safe Mum, Safe Child Maternal and Childcare Project, an initiative of the Rotary Club of Ogudu GRA aimed at supporting maternal and child health.
The contribution was announced at the club’s 20th Anniversary Investiture and Fundraising Ceremony, held on August 22, 2026, at OGRA Hall, Ogudu GRA, Lagos.
Launched in May 2023, the initiative addresses preventable complications associated with childbirth by providing mothers and newborns with essential healthcare supplies and practical support.
Optiva’s contribution is expected to support the provision of baby clothes, maternal care materials, baby bibs, diapers, delivery packs and pregnancy kits. These supplies are intended to address practical needs during pregnancy, childbirth and the early stages of a child’s life.
She noted that by supporting the existing programme, Optiva is contributing resources to a community-led effort focused on providing practical assistance to mothers and babies.
The company was represented at the ceremony by its Executive Director, Business Development, Amb. (Dr.) Amaka Diane Okeke, and Head of Client Engagement, Mrs Amarachi Isiocha-Emeni. Optiva’s contribution and participation were recognised during the event, where the company, represented by Okeke, received two awards.
The ceremony also marked the induction of Optiva’s Head of IT and Chief Technology Officer, Mr Mobolaji Ayodeji Odumosu, as the 20th President of the Rotary Club of Ogudu GRA for the 2026/2027 Rotary Year.
Beyond the maternal health initiative, Isiocha-Emeni delivered a presentation on wealth preservation and retention, highlighting the importance of informed decision-making in protecting and optimising wealth over the long term.
The activities reflected different ways of contributing to community development through financial support, participation in community organisations and the sharing of professional knowledge.
Optiva’s healthcare interventions extend beyond the provision of maternal and newborn supplies. The company is also supporting the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade of the Agboyi-Ketu Primary Healthcare Centre in partnership with the Lagos State Government.
The project aims to strengthen the facility’s capacity to provide maternal healthcare services. Its scope includes infrastructure improvements, maternity and labour facilities, bed capacity, medical equipment and the overall healthcare environment.
Renovation work remains ongoing, making the project an active part of Optiva’s community engagement.
The intervention complements the Safe Mum, Safe Child project. While the Rotary initiative focuses on immediate supplies and practical support for mothers and newborns, the Agboyi-Ketu project addresses the infrastructure through which healthcare services are delivered.
Both approaches respond to different aspects of maternal and infant healthcare: meeting immediate needs and supporting improvements to community-level facilities.
Improving maternal and infant health requires sustained attention to immediate needs as well as longer-term improvements in healthcare infrastructure and access. Collaboration among government, community organisations, healthcare stakeholders and responsible businesses can contribute to these efforts.
Optiva’s support for the two initiatives reflects its participation in complementary approaches to community healthcare. The company’s contribution to the Rotary project provides resources for maternal and newborn supplies, while its involvement in the Agboyi-Ketu facility supports ongoing infrastructure improvements.
These efforts also offer a broader perspective on wealth preservation. While financial stability helps families plan for the future, access to essential healthcare is another important factor in their long-term wellbeing.
For families, building and preserving wealth is closely connected to the ability to live healthy lives and provide opportunities for future generations. At community level, improving maternal and infant healthcare can help create conditions in which families have greater opportunities to thrive.
Through its support for maternal health programmes and primary healthcare infrastructure, Optiva Capital Partners is extending its community engagement beyond financial services to address practical healthcare needs.
Ultimately, preserving a family’s future involves more than protecting financial assets. It also means supporting the wellbeing of family members and the conditions they can pass on to the next generation. Access to quality healthcare remains central to that goal.
