The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, has called for legal and systemic reforms to address Nigeria’s maternal health crisis.
Speaking at the 6th Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele Annual Lecture in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Professor Fabamwo emphasized the urgent need to reform the country’s restrictive abortion laws.
The lecture held at the historic Old Great Hall of the College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, titled “The Tortuous Road to Maternal Mortality Reduction in Nigeria: Avoidable Stranglehold on Liberal Abortion Laws, ” was shared via their X handle today.
The event was chaired by Emeritus Professor Osato Frank Giwa-Osagie.
The gathering celebrated the enduring legacy of Chief Abimbola Aina Omololu-Mulele while providing a platform to tackle critical issues in women’s health.
It underscored the importance of addressing barriers in obstetrics and gynaecology to improve health outcomes for women across Nigeria.
With Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate standing at an alarming 1,500 deaths per 100,000 live births, Professor Fabamwo has highlighted the preventable nature of many of these tragedies.
Speaking passionately on the issue, he identified the country’s restrictive abortion laws as a significant factor driving unsafe practices that result in unnecessary deaths.
Professor Fabamwo noted that these laws, originally intended to safeguard women, often push them into dangerous, clandestine procedures.
This has become a public health emergency and a moral crisis, with illegal abortions accounting for approximately 13% of maternal deaths in Nigeria.
The fear of legal repercussions, he emphasized, compels many women to risk unsafe methods rather than seek proper medical care.
Currently, Nigerian law permits abortion only in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger—restrictions Professor Fabamwo described as outdated and misaligned with global health and human rights standards.
He called for the decriminalization of abortion and an expansion of reproductive health services to provide safe, legal access, thereby reducing maternal mortality.
Additionally, he stressed the critical need for broader access to family planning, quality maternal healthcare, and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education.
These measures, he argued, are essential to improving women’s health outcomes and addressing the maternal health crisis in Nigeria.
Collaborative Call-in Action
Emeritus Professor Giwa-Osagie, chairing the event, urged collective efforts to tackle Nigeria’s reproductive health challenges. Representing UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Oluwole Familoni echoed this, emphasizing collaboration to honor Chief (Mrs.) Omololu-Mulele’s legacy.
Prof. Adewale Oke, the Provost of the College of Medicine represented by Prof. Oluwafemi Odebiyi, and Prof. Bosede Afolabi, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, highlighted the need for government support, sustained funding, and global partnerships to address maternal health issues.
Dr. Omololu, representing the donor family, thanked UNILAG and the College of Medicine for sustaining the lecture series, honoring Chief Omololu-Mulele’s vision, and advocating solutions for maternal health.
“We are grateful to Professor Fabamwo and all the distinguished professionals here today. Your work continues to move us closer to a future where every woman has access to safe and quality care,” he said.
The event has significant figures, including Nigeria’s first female professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Kofoworola Surubomi Ogedengbe, and the President of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Prof. Oluwarotimi Ireti Akinola.
Two researchers Dr. Ayokunle Olumodeji and Dr. Tersur T. Salau were recognized for their significant contribution to maternal health.
However, Dr. Olumodeji was awarded for his research on HPV rapid testing for early cervical cancer detection, while Dr. Salau was honored for his work on fat-soluble vitamins in managing endometriosis pain and advancing women’s health in Nigeria.
