FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abuja, Nigeria
Pads for Her Initiative, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, convened a high-level National Policy Roundtable on Health, Education, and Sustainable Development: Ending Period Poverty, bringing together key stakeholders from government, civil society, and the private sector to drive menstrual health from advocacy to sustainable policy action.
Held at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Abuja, on the 31st of October, 2025, the event featured the active participation of several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), including the Federal Ministries of Health and Social Welfare; Education; Women Affairs; Industry, Trade and Investment; and Water Resources and Sanitation. Other participating agencies included the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).
In his opening address, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayo Wisdom Olawande, represented by Dr. Obinna Ebirin, Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to promoting youth health and gender equity. The Director of Youth Health and Psychosocial Department, Mr. Emmanuel Essien, also reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to partner with stakeholders in implementing menstrual health initiatives across the country.
The Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. John Ajiwohwodoma Ovuoraye, Director and Head of Gender, Adolescent, School Health, and Elderly Division at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, who represented the Honourable Minister of Health.
Distinguished attendees included representatives from partner organizations such as Girl Effect (Country Director, Mrs. Boladale Akin-Kolapo), 234 AURA, Innovborders, and members of the Pads for Her Initiative Board of Trustees — Dr. Sylvia Aneke Cole and Mrs. Aisha Allanso-Ahumareze. Also in attendance was Dr. Teresa Bassey, International Consultant in Public Health and Aviation Medicine.
Coming on the heels of Nigeria’s recent validation of its National Menstrual Health Policy, discussions at the roundtable were robust and solution-oriented. Stakeholders identified actionable strategies to strengthen menstrual health systems and policy implementation, including:
- Removal of VAT on sanitary products
- Promotion of local manufacturing of menstrual hygiene products
- Reduction of taxation on raw materials and machinery to enhance affordability
- Strengthening of WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure
- Expansion of youth engagement across the menstrual health value chain
- Leveraging NOA’s 800+ field officers for nationwide menstrual hygiene sensitization
- Enhanced inter-ministerial collaboration for policy synergy and execution
- Integration of ICT for improved data collection and impact monitoring
At the close of the dialogue, participants made firm commitments to advance these priorities. The Federal Ministry of Youth Development pledged continued coordination, accountability, and collaboration among all partners to deliver measurable impact.
Speaking on the significance of the engagement, Amarachi Blessing Ojimmah, Founder of Pads for Her Initiative, stated:
“This dialogue marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s journey toward menstrual justice. Our goal is to move beyond advocacy and ensure menstrual health is recognized as a development, policy, and human rights priority.”
Pads for Her Initiative remains steadfast in its mission to advance menstrual equity through policy engagement, advocacy, and community action, ensuring that every girl and woman in Nigeria can menstruate with dignity. The organization continues its regional campaign to raise 144,000 pads for 12,000 women and girls across Nigeria.
For media inquiries and interviews, please contact:
Amarachi Blessing Ojimmah
Founder, Pads for Her Initiative
padsforherinitiative@gmail.com
www.padsforher.org/
0708 256 1799