Experts have called for increased efforts to achieve menstrual equity and improve financial literacy among schoolgirls across Nigeria. They emphasized that access to menstrual health resources and education is critical for girls' academic progress, well-being, and future economic participation.
World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026 Commemoration
The call was made during the commemoration of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026. Moniepoint partnered with Sanitary Aid for Nigerian Girls (S.A.N.G.) to provide sanitary kits, menstrual health education, and financial literacy lessons to 500 students at New Era Girls Secondary School in Surulere, Lagos. The initiative was held under the global theme, “A Period-Friendly World.” Volunteers from Moniepoint and facilitators from S.A.N.G. educated students on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and practical life skills to support their personal and economic development.
Addressing Period Poverty
The intervention comes amid growing concerns over period poverty and its impact on girls' education and well-being. Globally, an estimated 500 million women and girls lack access to resources needed to manage menstruation safely, hygienically, and with dignity due to limited access to sanitary products, inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, and persistent social stigma.
Edidiong Uwemakpan, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Moniepoint, stated that addressing period poverty aligns with the company's commitment to promoting financial access and inclusion for Nigerians. She explained that girls who miss school due to menstruation are more likely to fall behind academically, while women facing practical and social burdens from poor menstrual health management often have constrained economic opportunities. Integrating menstrual equity interventions with financial inclusion programs provides a pathway to ensure women and girls are not excluded from growth and prosperity.
Impact of Sanitary Aid for Nigerian Girls
The collaboration reflects the long-standing advocacy of S.A.N.G., which has reached over 53,000 girls and distributed more than 80,000 sanitary pads across 23 states since its establishment. Founder Karo Omu maintained that menstrual poverty should not be viewed solely as a health issue, noting its significant economic implications. Omu disclosed that the organization has supported over 80,000 women and girls through menstrual health education and access to essential products. The partnership with Moniepoint offers an opportunity to expand the impact of such interventions. She noted that many women in underserved communities face barriers to economic participation due to lack of basic menstrual products, emphasizing that combining menstrual equity with financial inclusion could deliver more sustainable empowerment outcomes. The collaboration is designed to move beyond product distribution by creating scalable programs that support both health and economic advancement.
Encouraging Confidence
As part of the outreach, volunteers encouraged students to embrace adolescence with confidence and not allow menstruation or societal misconceptions to limit their aspirations.
