Kemi Olatunde
“I started my menstruation around 14 years and I was in the hostel then. I thank God I didn’t start early because then, it was tough for me as my mother only managed to provide a pack of sanitary pads with just 10 pieces. She did this not out of hatred but because she couldn’t afford it. I lost my father at a very tender age and only my mother beared the burden of caring for five children. She advised that I complemented it with the use of pieces of cloth which she carefully picked for me. I didn’t like it any time I had my period as I had to hide from other students to ensure I packed myself well with the clothes.
“There was a particular day that my classmate (a girl) was seriously crying that she was perceiving an odour due to a soaked menstrual cloth and advised that the person leave the class to clean up. I was embarrassed and I resulted in avoiding classes whenever I was on my period.” A 47-year old Olaide Dada related her experience while speaking with The Hope.
For millions of women and girls, menstruation is a natural biological process that occurs every month. Yet, for far too many, managing their periods remains a struggle marked by stigma, inadequate information, poor sanitation facilities, and the inability to afford basic menstrual products. The consequences extend far beyond personal discomfort. Poor menstrual hygiene management affects health, education, self-esteem, productivity, and ultimately national development.
Menstrual hygiene is a fundamental component of public health and gender equality. When girls have access to sanitary products, clean water, safe toilets, and accurate information about their menstrual health, they are more likely to stay in school, participate confidently in social activities, and reach their full potential. Conversely, when these necessities are lacking, girls often miss classes, face discrimination, and become vulnerable to infections and other reproductive health complications.
Across developing countries, including Nigeria, period poverty remains a persistent challenge. Many girls are forced to use unsafe alternatives such as old clothes, tissue paper, or newspapers because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Inadequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools further compound the problem, making it difficult for girls to manage their periods with dignity. The result is a cycle of absenteeism, poor academic performance, and lost opportunities that can follow them into adulthood.
It is against this backdrop that the Federal Government’s approval of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management marks a significant milestone. The policy represents a bold commitment to ensuring that no girl is denied education, dignity, or opportunity simply because of menstruation.
Speaking during the policy validation in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Maryam Keshinro, described menstrual health as a national development issue rather than merely a women’s concern.
According to the minister, the policy seeks to guarantee dignity, safety, and support for women and girls while improving health outcomes and increasing educational and economic participation.
She outlined an ambitious vision for 2030, stating that no girl in Nigeria should have to choose between managing her menstruation and pursuing her education, while no woman should face limitations in her personal or professional development because of her menstrual cycle.
She described menstrual health as not only a women’s issue but also a community and national development concern, stressing that the policy would guarantee dignity, safety and support for women and girls while improving health outcomes and increasing educational and economic participation.
“This policy sets a clear vision: by 2030, no girl in Nigeria should have to choose between managing her menstruation and pursuing her education; no woman should be hindered in her personal or professional development because of menstruation; and no community should sustain stigma or exclusion linked to it.
“Implementation will require strong collaboration across sectors, political will, and active participation from states, communities, and development partners.
“Let us validate this policy with unity of purpose and commitment to action, knowing that menstrual health is not a privilege but a right. Together, we can make it a lived reality for every woman and girl in Nigeria,” the minister said.
The policy’s approval comes at a time when evidence continues to highlight the scale of period poverty across the country. Online findings show that approximately one in four girls experiences period poverty, a challenge that frequently contributes to school absenteeism.
These concerns were echoed during the 12th anniversary celebration of Datametrics Associates Limited, where the organisation used the occasion to intensify advocacy against period poverty through a menstrual hygiene sensitisation programme for students of Government Secondary School, Gwarinpa, in the Federal Capital Territory.
The organisation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Abiodun Feyikemi-Ipadeola, stressed that menstrual hygiene goes beyond health considerations.
“Menstrual hygiene is not just a health issue; it is about dignity, confidence and equal opportunity. No girl should have to miss school because of her period,” she said.
Feyikemi-Ipadeola lamented that many girls continue to face barriers in accessing sanitary products and adequate sanitation facilities. According to her, nearly half of public schools in the FCT lack functional WASH facilities, creating an environment that undermines girls’ ability to manage menstruation safely and comfortably.
Even more concerning is the reality that some girls still resort to using unsafe materials because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Such practices expose them to infections and other reproductive health risks while reinforcing educational inequalities.
Beyond infrastructure and affordability, menstrual stigma remains a major obstacle. Many girls grow up with limited information about menstruation, often viewing it as a source of embarrassment rather than a normal biological process. Programmes such as the one organised by Datametrics are helping to challenge these misconceptions by providing accurate information and encouraging open conversations.
For participants like Mariam Ahmed, the sensitisation programme was transformative.
“I used to feel shy talking about my period, but today I learned it is normal and nothing to be ashamed of,” she said.
Her experience reflects the broader importance of menstrual education in empowering young girls with confidence and knowledge.
However, experts argue that awareness alone is not enough. Sustainable progress will require coordinated efforts among government institutions, schools, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector. Investments in school sanitation facilities, affordable menstrual products, public awareness campaigns, and effective policy implementation will be essential to achieving meaningful change.
Speaking with The Hope, Ondo State Coordinator, Family Planning, Mrs Opeyemi Agunbiade lauded the country’s first menstrual health policy, while also seeking stronger implementation.
She described the policy and hygiene management as a landmark step towards improving public health, gender equality and the well-being of women and girls across the country.
She said that the policy, which was approved in August 2025 and is expected to run until 2030, seeks to address longstanding challenges surrounding menstruation, including stigma, inadequate sanitation facilities, limited access to menstrual products and poor public awareness.
Speaking on the significance of the policy, she noted that Nigeria had, for decades, operated without a dedicated national policy on menstrual health, relying instead on broader reproductive health frameworks such as the National Reproductive Health Policy of 2016.
According to the expert, menstruation has long been shrouded in silence, stigma and cultural misconceptions, making it difficult for many women and girls to access the support and facilities they need to manage their menstrual health with dignity.
“The policy is the first of its kind in Nigeria. It aims to make menstrual health a priority not only in schools and workplaces but also within communities.
“It seeks to ensure that menstruation does not become a barrier to education, productivity, health or social participation.
“The policy is designed to break the silence surrounding menstruation, eliminate harmful stigma and integrate menstrual health into national development agendas, particularly in the education, water, sanitation, hygiene and gender sectors,” she explained.
Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, the expert cited findings by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF indicating that about 37 per cent of Nigerian women and girls still rely on unhygienic menstrual materials such as rags and paper during their menstrual periods.
The situation, Agunbiade noted, poses significant health risks and underscores the need for improved access to safe and affordable menstrual products.
She hinted that UNESCO estimates that one in every 10 girls in sub-Saharan Africa misses school during menstruation, while about 30 per cent of girls are absent from school annually due to menstrual-related challenges.
The expert further revealed that some girls eventually drop out of school after attaining puberty because they lack adequate menstrual support and facilities, a development she stated that negatively impacts female education and national development.
“It is concerning that many girls are deprived of educational opportunities simply because they are menstruating. Female education is critical to community and national development, and no girl should be left behind because of a natural biological process,” the expert added.
The policy according to her also seeks to address reproductive health concerns among adolescents.
According to available data, about 15 per cent of adolescent girls are already pregnant or have become mothers, partly due to inadequate understanding and tracking of their menstrual cycles.
Poverty, the expert noted, remains a major factor contributing to poor menstrual hygiene practices, as many women and girls are unable to afford quality sanitary products and are compelled to use unsafe alternatives.
To tackle these challenges, the policy outlines several strategic pillars, including the provision of subsidised or free sanitary products, removal of taxes on menstrual hygiene products and expansion of menstrual health education across schools and communities.
It also advocates improved access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools and health institutions, while promoting inclusiveness for vulnerable groups such as girls living with disabilities and internally displaced persons.
The policy further emphasises universal access, ensuring that women and girls in rural and underserved communities have equal access to affordable, safe and hygienic menstrual products and facilities.
Despite its lofty objectives, the expert acknowledged that significant challenges remain.
According to her, economic constraints, cultural and religious taboos, inadequate infrastructure and poor sanitation facilities in schools could hinder effective implementation.
She noted that in many communities, menstruation is still regarded as a taboo subject, with women and girls facing discrimination and restrictions during their menstrual periods.
The expert also stressed the need for schools to establish designated menstrual support spaces, including “pad banks” where sanitary pads can be stored and accessed by girls who unexpectedly begin menstruating while in school.
“Every school should have a private and safe space where girls can access sanitary products and manage their menstrual needs comfortably without embarrassment or fear,” the expert said.
The expert concluded that the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of public health improvement and gender equality.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure that women and girls enjoy their right to safe, dignified and healthy menstrual experiences,” she added