Period poverty remains one of the most significant yet often overlooked barriers faced by young girls in Nigeria today. The inability to access safe and hygienic menstrual products can affect more than physical comfort; it directly impacts education, confidence and emotional wellbeing. At a time in their lives when girls are beginning to understand themselves and their place in the world, these challenges can shape their experiences in ways many people never see.
Understanding the Scale of the Problem
Millions of girls across Nigeria either cannot afford menstrual products or do not have access to them in their communities. When a girl is unable to manage her period safely, her most practical option often becomes staying home from school. Missing just a few days each month results in lost learning opportunities, widening educational gaps and feelings of embarrassment or shame.
Families facing financial hardship may prioritise food or basic household essentials over sanitary products. This creates a cycle where girls are left without safe alternatives, sometimes resorting to makeshift solutions that can be uncomfortable or unhygienic. The long-term effects on health, confidence and attendance at school can be severe.
Why Dignity Matters
Periods are a normal part of life, yet stigma and silence make many girls feel ashamed. When a girl does not have the products she needs, her self-esteem can suffer. She may feel isolated or unable to participate in everyday activities. Dignity is not just about having a product; it is about the freedom to live confidently without fear of embarrassment.
Ensuring that girls have access to reusable, sustainable menstrual products restores dignity and helps them feel supported. When the focus shifts from struggling to manage a basic need to thriving academically and socially, everything changes.
The Role of Community Outreach
Empowering Sisters Welfare Foundation has made period poverty one of its core focus areas. Through outreach programmes across schools in Lagos and other regions, ESWF provides reusable menstrual care kits that last for years instead of days. These kits ease financial pressure on families and give girls the security they deserve.
In addition to distributing products, the organisation provides education about menstrual health, hygiene and emotional wellbeing. This holistic approach ensures that girls understand their bodies and know they are not alone. Open conversations help remove stigma and create safe spaces where girls can ask questions without fear.
The Link Between Menstrual Support and Education
When girls feel supported with their menstrual needs, school attendance improves significantly. A girl who attends school consistently has a better chance of succeeding academically, building confidence and shaping a brighter future. Over time, these small improvements contribute to larger community development.
A confident, educated girl is more likely to become an empowered woman who actively contributes to her community. This effect ripples across generations, strengthening families and creating lasting change.
How Sustainable Products Make a Difference
Reusable menstrual products offer long-term relief. Instead of worrying every month about purchasing disposable pads, girls can rely on durable, comfortable alternatives that are friendly to both the environment and their finances. This sustainable approach ensures support continues even when outreach events are not happening.
By combining product distribution with mentorship, ESWF ensures every girl receives more than a kit. She receives encouragement, understanding and hope.
Creating Lasting Change Together
Ending period poverty requires compassion, awareness and action. When communities, organisations and individuals come together, the impact is powerful. Each contribution helps keep a girl in school, strengthens her confidence and empowers her journey toward becoming a leader.
Through its initiatives, ESWF continues to create safe, supportive spaces where girls are heard, valued and uplifted. Every girl deserves dignity, opportunity and the chance to learn without barriers.
