Masculine Maternity

In northern Nigeria’s Borno State, Mohammed Bukar used to believe his wife’s diet during pregnancy didn’t need special attention. Cultural norms in his community meant men decided how women cared for children. When humanitarian organisation FHI 360 introduced father‑to‑father support groups, Bukar joined out of curiosity. The group met twice a month to discuss hygiene, early breastfeeding and maternal nutrition. They encouraged men to help with household chores so mothers had more time to rest. The results were remarkable. According to an analysis by FHI 360 and USAID, more than 96 percent of households where fathers participated practised exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, compared with 57 percent of households without participating fathers. Early breastfeeding initiation, giving colostrum as the first food and timely complementary feeding were all significantly higher in these homes. Fathers who joined the groups also provided extra food during their partner’s pregnanc...

A look at Nigeria’s expanding paternity‑leave policies, highlighting state initiatives and the benefits of giving fathers time off to bond with their newborns and support their partners. The story of my dad: "When our son was born, I was allowed to take only two days off work. I spent those days shuttling between hospital and home, sleep‑deprived and anxious. By the time I returned to my job, my wife was still recovering, and I felt guilty for leaving her alone. Stories like mine are common among Nigerian fathers, but things are changing. Nigeria’s federal government now grants male civil servants 14 days of paternity leave. Fathers who take this leave report feeling happier and more connected to their babies when they return to work. Some states are pushing the envelope further. Abia State has proposed three weeks of paternity leave alongside six months of maternity leave for mothers, while Kogi State recently approved a six‑month paid maternity leave and 14‑day paid paternity le...

What if you walked into a busy antenatal clinic in Lagos and saw men standing side‑by‑side with their pregnant wives — not just carrying wallets and car keys, but clapping along to the songs, waiting patiently for the midwife, taking notes and handing over money for vitamins? A few years ago this would have seemed unusual in Nigeria, where pregnancy has long been treated as a “women’s domain.” Yet on a bright February morning in 2025 at the Alimosho General Hospital, journalist Oluwakemi Adelagun noticed something different: men were there, watching their wives stretch and sing and waiting quietly at the edge of the shed. They weren’t just dropping them off. They were present. A Premium Times investigation published on 14 May 2025 documented this quiet revolution. Men like Chibueze Okoli, a self‑employed father, and Kelvin, an Uber driver, now accompany their wives to antenatal appointments because flexible work schedules and supportive partners make it possible. On ...