’37m Women, Girls Suffer Menstrual Poverty In Nigeria’

The Rotary International has said about 37 million women and girls in Nigeria are affected by menstrual poverty, a situation contributing to poor hygiene and school absenteeism among young girls.

This was revealed during a menstrual hygiene awareness campaign organised for over 400 secondary school students in Abule Iroko, Ogun State, by the Rotary Club of Alakuko, in partnership with the Castle and Care Initiative and the Rotary Clubs of Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja Airport, Ikeja GRA and Nigeria Globetrotters.

The outreach, held at the Delight Multipurpose Hall to commemorate World Menstrual Hygiene Day, focused on educating students on menstrual health while distributing reusable sanitary pads to female students.

President of the Rotary Club of Alakuko, Rotarian Dare Oyegbola, said the initiative was aimed at addressing menstrual poverty and ensuring girls remain in school during their menstrual periods.

According to him, one in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school because of menstruation and lack of access to sanitary products.

“This is not just about hygiene. It is about dignity and ensuring that girls remain in school,” he said.

Oyegbola explained that the reusable sanitary pads distributed during the programme would provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution for families struggling to afford disposable sanitary products.

Also speaking, Rotarian Yetunde Ogunyakin said the outreach formed part of Rotary’s “PAD A GIRL” campaign targeted at improving menstrual hygiene awareness and supporting girls’ education.

Founder of the Castle and Care Initiative, Rotarian Tolulope Oduba, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting menstrual health education and providing safe alternatives for girls across communities.

In a related intervention, President of the Rotary Club of Nigeria Globetrotters, Rotarian Enitan Sophie Oluwa, donated books valued at over ₦5 million to the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Abule Iroko Chapter, to support student learning.

She urged schools to ensure the educational materials are properly utilised to improve academic performance.