Senator Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan has adopted an influence-driven, citizen-supported approach to development, mobilising public goodwill and crowdfunding to build a state-of-the-art maternity centre in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, independent of constituency project funding.
The fully equipped, 21st-century maternity facility was commissioned on Wednesday to coincide with the senator’s 46th birthday, attracting attention not only for its modern infrastructure but also for its unconventional funding model within Nigeria’s political landscape.
Strategically located to serve Ihima and neighbouring communities in Kogi Central, the centre is being widely regarded by residents and healthcare experts as one of the most impactful grassroots healthcare interventions in the North-Central region in recent years.
The commissioning ceremony drew traditional rulers, community leaders, health professionals, women’s groups and political supporters, many of whom described the project as a milestone in maternal and child healthcare delivery in the district.
Speaking at the event, Akpoti-Uduaghan clarified that the maternity centre was deliberately executed outside constituency project allocations. She explained that the facility was financed through crowdfunding, driven largely by personal networks and goodwill she has built across the country.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the people who contributed financially to this maternity centre are not from Kogi State,” she said. “This is a people-driven gift—a labour of love—entirely separate from constituency funds.”
According to the senator, the clarification was necessary to dispel public speculation and to reaffirm her commitment to transparency, accountability and ethical leadership.
She noted that the project reflects her belief that public office can be used to inspire trust and mobilise private support for public good, rather than relying solely on government funding mechanisms.
“Leadership is not just about deploying public funds,” Akpoti-Uduaghan said. “It is about inspiring confidence, attracting goodwill and mobilising resources to solve real problems.”
She further explained that other projects linked to her office, including the auditorium and staff quarters at the Federal Government College (FGC), Idoani, were also completed outside the Kogi Central constituency budget.
Addressing another public discourse, the senator clarified that the six houses she recently gifted to her legislative aides were funded entirely from her personal resources.
“Those houses were built by me personally. They are not constituency projects,” she said, adding that the gesture was meant to appreciate loyalty and dedication.
Health experts who assessed the Ihima maternity centre described it as one of the best community-level maternal healthcare facilities in the region. The centre is equipped with modern delivery suites, neonatal care units, digital monitoring systems and emergency response equipment designed to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
For residents of Ihima, the commissioning represents the fulfilment of a long-standing need, as expectant mothers previously travelled long distances to access quality maternity services.
“This centre will save lives,” a community leader said. “It will serve Ihima and many surrounding communities across Kogi Central.”
Marking her birthday at the event, Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed that her approach to public service is rooted in compassion, inclusion and responsible stewardship, stressing that leadership should be measured by tangible impact on people’s lives, rather than access to public funds.
Her slogan, “Making the Strange Familiar,” echoed throughout the ceremony, underscoring what supporters described as her ability to transform unconventional ideas into practical solutions.
For many in Kogi Central, the Ihima maternity centre stands as more than a birthday project; it symbolises an emerging model of citizen-supported development and a leadership philosophy defined as much by humanity as by legislation.
Akpoti-Uduaghan Harnesses Influence, Crowdfunding to Deliver Ihima Maternity Centre
