Kwara State has emerged as the leading state in Nigeria for child survival, posting the lowest under-five mortality rate in the country, according to the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health.
Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq announced that the findings place Kwara at the top nationally as the best state in Nigeria for a child to be born and raised. The report shows that the state recorded 14 deaths per 1,000 live births among children under five, the lowest figure nationwide.
The governor described the development as a significant milestone for the state’s healthcare system, attributing the progress to sustained investments in primary healthcare services across communities.
While acknowledging the achievement, Governor AbdulRazaq stressed that the state government would not treat the ranking as a final destination. Instead, he said it serves as motivation to intensify ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve outcomes for mothers and children.
He also expressed pride in the state’s current standing, noting that the results reflect deliberate policies aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare.
The latest ranking reinforces earlier reports highlighting Kwara’s progress in child health indicators. In 2025, the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency disclosed that the state had already recorded the lowest child mortality indicators in the country.
Speaking during the First Quarterly Meeting of the Kwara State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Health Care in Ilorin, the agency’s Executive Secretary, Nusirat Elelu, explained that data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey at the time showed two child deaths per 1,000 live births, the lowest recorded across Nigerian states.
Elelu linked the improvement to expanded healthcare services and growing public confidence in medical facilities. She also pointed to improved access to skilled birth attendants in primary healthcare centres, which has played a crucial role in safeguarding the health of mothers and young children.
Together, the NDHS findings and the state’s earlier progress suggest that consistent investment in community-based healthcare is gradually reshaping child survival outcomes in Kwara, positioning the state as a model for improved maternal and child health in Nigeria.
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