Abisola Oladapo began her maternal health advocacy after a personal ordeal that nearly cost her child’s life. This experience opened her eyes to the alarming gaps in Nigeria’s maternal health education and support systems, particularly for underprivileged women.
Nigeria, with its large, youthful population, suffers from some of the world’s highest mortality rates during childbirth. Despite some improvements, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains among the highest globally, with 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and around 262,000 neonatal deaths annually. Factors like poverty, limited access to healthcare, and low birth registration rates contribute to these high mortality rates.
Recognising the severe risk faced by millions of expectant mothers, Oladapo knew she had to find a solution that would educate and support pregnant women in need. Based on her medtech and software engineering background, Oladapo co-created Agnes, an app addressing urgent maternal health issues.
The app connects pregnant women with board-certified midwives through a 24/7 telehealth service supplemented by accessible educational content. Recognising linguistic and academic diversity in Nigeria, Oladapo and her team ensured Agnes included audio content available in multiple local languages, making it accessible regardless of literacy levels.
This emphasis on accessibility allows Agnes to reach more women, offering vital support and education throughout their pregnancies. The impact of Agnes is substantial. The app has reduced maternal morbidity by four times and neonatal deaths by twenty-two times among its users, and engagement with healthcare services has increased by over 100%.
Beyond the numbers, Agnes has become a trusted resource for women navigating pregnancy, providing reassurance and empowerment to make informed decisions about their health and babies’ well-being. Oladapo’s work with Agnes complements her broader efforts at Mumspring, where she has adopted a holistic approach to maternal care.
Through Mumspring, Oladapo provides emotional, mental, and economic support, creating safe spaces where women can gain confidence in their abilities and take charge of their health. Her dedication has inspired countless women, encouraging them to embrace their agency and seek better health outcomes for themselves and their families.
As a mentor, she educates women on the importance of self-advocacy, striving to transform maternal health in Nigeria by empowering women with both knowledge and support. The impact of Oladapo’s work has not gone unnoticed. She was named one of Forbes’ 52 women changing the future of femtech and health-tech globally and was recognised by KPMG UK as the Black Entrepreneur of the Year in the social impact category.
Oladapo envisions a greater reach for Agnes, empowering 16 million women by 2026 through inclusive health education and real-time medical support. She is committed to ensuring that Agnes remains a reliable resource for maternal health, continuously expanding its accessibility and adaptability to address the evolving needs of women across Nigeria and beyond.
