The commissioning of a fully equipped 21st-century maternity centre in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Wednesday became a major statement on transparency in public service as Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan declared the project was executed without a kobo from constituency allocations.
The centre, one of the most modern community-level maternal facilities in Nigeria, was unveiled as part of activities marking the senator’s 46th birthday and drew widespread commendation from community leaders, health professionals, women groups and traditional rulers across Kogi Central.
A statement from her Media Office explained the lawmaker, speaking at the ceremony, said the maternity complex was funded through a crowdfunding initiative largely supported by Nigerians outside her district.
She said, “About 99 per cent of the people who contributed to this project are not from Kogi State. This is a people-driven gift, a labour of love, and entirely separate from constituency funds.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan said it was important to correct assumptions about the funding to ensure public clarity and strengthen confidence in ethical representation.
She noted that leadership should not be reduced to the disbursement of public funds but must reflect the ability to attract goodwill, inspire collaboration and mobilise resources for community development.
The senator also clarified that her recently inaugurated projects at Federal Government College, Idoani – including a new auditorium and staff quarters – were similarly funded outside the constituency budget.
Responding to another public debate, she disclosed that the six houses she built for her legislative aides were financed privately.
“Those houses were built by me personally. They are not constituency projects but my way of appreciating aides who have stood by me.”
Health experts who inspected the new maternity facility described it as one of the most advanced community-oriented maternal centres in the North-Central region.
Equipped with world-class delivery suites, neonatal care units, digital monitoring systems and emergency response technology, the centre is expected to significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality in the area.
Residents of Ihima hailed the project as a long-awaited lifeline, noting that it would serve thousands of families within and beyond Kogi Central.
As she celebrated her 46th birthday, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan reiterated that her public service values are anchored on compassion, inclusiveness and accountability.
Her personal slogan, “Making the Strange Familiar,” echoed through the event, symbolising her drive to turn bold ideas into tangible, community-transforming outcomes.
For the people of Kogi Central, the new maternity centre stands not just as a birthday gift but as a landmark of hope and a reminder that leadership is best measured by impact, integrity and humanity.
Sunday Aborisade
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