By Perpetua Onuegbu
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Teenage Network, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, has called on the Federal Government to make sanitary pads available to all girls in Nigeria.
The Communications Officer of the NGO, Grace Anaja, made the call during a sensitisation walk on Wednesday in Abuja to commemorate the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, with the theme ‘Together for a Period Friendly World’.
Anaja said that studies had shown that one in every 10 girls missed classes every month because of poverty, lack of access to sanitary products, hygiene facilities and adequate education.
She said that the walk was to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene management and advocate for policies that would address the situation.
“This year’s theme showcases the urgent need to break the silence surrounding menstruation and ensure access to safe and affordable menstrual products for all girls and women.
“A period-friendly world is necessary to attract attention and spark conversations about the stigma and challenges surrounding menstruation in Nigeria.
“The walk emphasises the importance of making pads free for school girls and part of essential school supplies. Government should establish pad banks to ensure there are sanitary pads for every girl in school.
Anaja stressed the need to break the stigma surrounding menstruation, educate the public about the importance of menstrual hygiene management and urge policy makers to take concrete action to alleviate period poverty in the FCT.
One of the participants, Francisca Chukwuma, a student of Government Secondary School, Kagini, said that girls in both rural and urban communities should be allowed to have free access to pads and other essential hygiene products.
Chukwuma expressed optimism that the sensitisation would help break the barriers and address negative myths and religious beliefs about menstruation cycle.
Another student, Favour Jombo, said that the sensitisation would help to build the girl-child confidence and dignity during her period.
Mrs Funmi Boboye, a parent, urged the government to make budgetary provisions for free distribution of sanitary pads to schools.
Boboye commended the Teenage Network and ActionAid for the initiative, calling for assistance for the two organisations to be consistent in the programmes aimed at promoting hygiene for girls.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the walk, which commenced at Jahi, Abuja, featured participants carrying placards with various messages on the need for making pads available to girls.
NAN
