Program Cities

Nigeria is comprised of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. There are 250 ethnic groups across this nation with about half of the population practicing Christians and half Muslim. 43% of this country’s citizens live in urban sites with half of its women under 19 years old, just entering their childbearing years.

The economy of Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world. It is projected that by the year 2100 the population with grow fourfold to nearly 739 million people.

NURHI is currently active in the four initial urban cities: Abuja FCT, Ibadan, Ilorin and Kaduna as well as two scale-up sites: Benin City and Zaria. The six project cities were selected by several criterion:

• Population of over 1,000,000 (2 to 5 Local Government Areas);
• Potential for increasing CPR (greatest levels of intention to use draft data and unmet need);
• Cultural acceptability, including potential support from traditional and religious leaders;
• Strong mix of service delivery options, including clinical facilities and referral centers for long acting and permanent contraceptive methods;
• Evidence of conducive government support and political stability;
• Presence of strong Nigerian partner institutions and the availability of strong Nigerian management, program and clinical expertise; and
• The presence and interest of other donor organizations.