The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2014 report has stated that the maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is 560 deaths per 100,000 live births and one-third of all global maternal deaths are concentrated in two populous countries which includes Nigeria, after India. This was revealed, weekend, by the executive director of Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr Abiola Akiyode Afolabi at the “National Roundtable: Sustainable Development Goals Gender Equality and Maternal Health” in Abuja.She lamented that Nigeria ranks 118 of 134 countries in the gender equality index, as fewer girls are enrolled in school in schools compared with boys. Disturbingly too, women make up only 21% of the non-agricultural paid labour force as majority of women are are concentrated in casual, low-skilled, low paid informal sector employment with only 7.2 % of women owning land that they farm, which limits their access to credit and entrepreneurship as well as business activities.
Source: Leadership Online
