In a bold move to empower adolescent girls and break long-standing stigmas, Nery Developmental Initiative (NDI) has advocated for the inclusion of reusable pad-making in Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum and the institutionalization of periodic menstrual health checks for students.

This call was made at the Menstrual Health Roundtable 2025, hosted by NDI on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Government Secondary School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, with students from GSS Idu-Koro, GSS Gwagwa, and GSS Jiwa also in attendance. Themed “Menstrual Health, Human Rights, and Dignity: Advancing Equality for All,” the event marked World Menstrual Hygiene Day with transformative conversations, practical training, and stakeholder engagement.

In her heartfelt welcome address, Amb. Rita Chika Ezenwa, Founder and Executive Director of NDI, declared,

“Menstrual health is not a private inconvenience—it is a public issue, a human rights concern, and a developmental necessity… Let us listen, learn, and leave empowered to create communities where no girl is held back by her period.”

The Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe G. Yilwatda, represented by Fatima S.A. Lemu, Deputy Director, described the roundtable as a “rallying cry for transformative action,” urging stakeholders to “recognize menstrual health as a development priority and invest meaningfully in initiatives that address this neglected issue.”

Also delivering a goodwill message, Etuka Chizoba Ifeoma, Assistant Commander of Narcotics, NDLEA, emphasized the agency’s readiness to partner with civil society to promote menstrual health as a form of youth empowerment and drug abuse prevention.

“A girl who understands her body and health is far less vulnerable to exploitation or risky behaviors,” she said, encouraging the girls in attendance to embrace their period with pride, preparedness, and self-respect.

Additional dignitaries included representatives from the Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Ambulance Academy, FRSC Special Marshals, Purple Ribbon Foundation, Heal Nation, and Ex-Miss Eco International.

The event featured two panel sessions. The first, moderated by Barr. Joy Agashua, spotlighted student voices and the urgent need to end menstrual stigma in schools. The second session, moderated by the Programs Officer of Servelead Humanitarian Initiative, included expert contributions from Dr. Obioma Aririsukwu, Pharm. Fatimat Usman, Queen Sarah Akaazua (Miss Indigenous Nigeria 2025), and Nurse Uburu Sarah N. C on policy, access, and innovation in menstrual health.

In the practical sessions, Pad-Up Africa facilitated a hands-on workshop on reusable pad-making, followed by a training session on usage and hygiene by Virtuous Pads. Each student received a free pack of reusable pads, promoting both sustainability and dignity.

A key resolution from the roundtable was a formal advocacy push for the inclusion of reusable pad-making as part of Home Economics or Health Education in the national curriculum, equipping girls with lifelong skills. Participants also called for routine menstrual health checks in schools, enabling early detection of reproductive health issues and reducing absenteeism due to preventable complications.

As the day closed with smiles, photos, and renewed determination, one message rang clear: periods should never be a barrier to education, health, or self-worth.