Neem Foundation, through its Neem Seed Initiative in partnership with The Regent Secondary School, distributed sanitary pads to over 400 students, addressing a pervasive yet underreported crisis in Nigeria—period poverty.

Ms. Nancy Oyibo, Neem Foundation’s Head of Legal, spoke with clarity about the motivation behind the intervention. “Period poverty isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a barrier to education, health, and opportunity. Many girls are forced to miss school because they lack access to basic menstrual products. We’re here today not only to distribute pads but also to create a sustainable solution through the launch of a pad bank and education on menstrual hygiene.”

Her words highlighted a grim reality: an estimated 37 million women and girls in Nigeria are unable to afford menstrual products, forcing many to resort to unhygienic alternatives or miss out on school and work entirely. This is compounded by a near 200% rise in the cost of sanitary pads over the past year, making them a luxury item for millions of families.

A Crisis Often Overlooked

Despite the scale of the issue, period poverty remains largely invisible in national discourse. Nigeria’s challenges—security concerns, economic instability, political turmoil—often overshadow the everyday struggles of its most vulnerable citizens. Yet, as Principal Dr. Grace Ifeyinwa of JSS Jabi 1 pointed out during the event, this is an issue that strikes at the heart of equality and development.

“We are grateful to Neem Foundation for choosing our school for this intervention,” she said. “More initiatives like this are needed to address the rising costs of menstrual products and the broader challenges faced by our girls.”

The students, too, voiced their gratitude. One of them, Terfa, a JSS 2 pupil, shared her thoughts with shy optimism. “We learned a lot today, and we’re thankful to Neem Foundation for coming. I hope they can return and continue helping us.”

Addressing Stigma and Building Awareness

The distribution event was about more than just providing pads. Neem Foundation’s efforts included a sensitization session on menstrual health and hygiene, aimed at dismantling the stigma surrounding menstruation. The establishment of a pad bank at the school promises to offer ongoing support to students, ensuring that this intervention isn’t just a fleeting act of charity but a step toward lasting change.

Still, the challenges remain immense. Addressing period poverty requires systemic solutions—government policies, private sector partnerships, and widespread public awareness campaigns. Initiatives like this one offer a glimpse of what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose.

A Measure of Progress

For a country that often prides itself on its stature as the “Giant of Africa,” the persistence of period poverty is a stark reminder of the gaps in its social fabric. Yet events like this show that progress is achievable.

Neem Foundation and The Regent Schools have taken a small but meaningful step forward. The question now is whether others—policymakers, businesses, civil society—will follow. For the millions of girls across Nigeria who face the indignity and hardship of period poverty, the answer cannot come soon enough.

Because in the end, ensuring that every girl has access to menstrual products isn’t just about equity or health—it’s about the fundamental right to participate in society without barriers. Anything less is a failure to prioritize the future of Nigeria itself.