THE Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustain the gains of The Challenge Initiative (TCI) model, focusing on urban health and family planning, to ensure lasting health impact.
Director and Head of the Department of Family Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Binyerem Ukaire made this known, yesterday, in Abuja at the TCI Nigeria Next-Gen National Dissemination Meeting.
Ukaire said the TCI model was a sustainable, state-led approach that promotes local ownership, accountability, and continuity in delivering family planning and reproductive health services.
“I stand here today as a testament to the great work done by Dr Taiwo Johnson and the TCI Nigeria team. Indeed, the TCI model is very sustainable, a free model that promotes state-based investment and ensures that the right services and information reach those who need them most,” she said.
She commended TCI for aligning its work with the National Family Planning Policy and supporting states to strengthen local systems.
She noted that “even with TCI ceasing to exist as a programme, the work continues,” adding that the model’s emphasis on domestic resource mobilisation and government leadership ensures its continuity.
According to her, the ministry remains deeply committed to reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services and recognises family planning as central to achieving Nigeria’s human capital and sustainable development goals.
“Without family planning, we will not achieve human capital development or sustainable growth. Family planning is critical and must be implemented the right way.
Also speaking, Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, Chairperson, Senate Committee on Health, pledged continued legislative support to strengthen funding and oversight for family planning and reproductive health programmes nationwide.
Banigo commended TCI and its partners for building local leadership, expanding access, and transforming community attitudes toward family planning across states.
She disclosed that the National Assembly had ensured the inclusion of a two billion counterpart fund for family planning commodities in the 2024 national budget.
She urged state governments to emulate the example by allocating adequate funds to family planning services and commodities to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
Earlier, Dr Taiwo Johnson, Project Director, TCI Nigeria, said the initiative had strengthened state-level ownership of family planning and reproductive health interventions, with many states now providing domestic funding and scaling evidence-based practices.
Johnson highlighted that sustainability does not mean TCI’s exit but a shift in role, from direct implementation to technical coaching and partnership.
