By Chioma Obinna

Pad-Up Creations Limited, a leading manufacturer of reusable sanitary pads, baby diapers, and undergarments, has empowered over 3,000 young girls and women across Nigerian communities within the last three years. This significant achievement is attributed to the company’s innovative Micro Sales Agents programme, designed to foster economic independence and enhance access to essential hygiene products.

Under this initiative, women are equipped with starter kits valued at ?55,000 without any upfront payment. This enables them to establish their own small-scale businesses, selling Pad-Up’s products within their neighborhoods.

Speaking on the programme, CEO of Pad-Up Creations Limited, Mrs. Olivia Onyemaobi highlighted the initiative’s core objective: “With the micro sales agents, we are empowering girls and women because we realized that many women, due to the economic situation in Nigeria, cannot even afford to support their families. We thought of what we can do on our own to contribute to the economic empowerment of young girls and women.”

The model is straightforward yet highly impactful. Participants receive products on credit, sell them within their communities, remit payments to Pad-Up, and retain the profit margin. Consistent sales and remittances build trust, allowing agents to access more products and steadily grow their businesses and income.

Beyond boosting household incomes, the Micro Sales Agents programme tackles a critical social issue: access to affordable hygiene products in remote and underserved areas.

“The truth is, it’s not just about economic empowerment. There are communities where girls are struggling to access basic sanitary products. We use these women to bring our products closer to them,” Onyemaobi explained.

This approach is particularly vital in settings like internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where demand for affordable, reusable diapers and sanitary pads is high. Onyemaobi detailed how the programme ensures women in IDP camps can also run small businesses supplying these essential items, creating a cycle of empowerment and improved hygiene.

“The last time I went into one of the IDP camps, they were bringing out their money to buy reusable baby diapers and they were asking when next we would come in. Who says they don’t want comfort or cleanliness? These are people that we actually want to empower. So imagine that we are able to give a woman there a starter kit and she can be selling to those women instead of them waiting for when we will come the next time,” she stated.

The programme has also become a lifeline for women in challenging circumstances.
Onyemaobi shared a poignant example of a woman in a violent marriage whose husband forbade her from working. Through the Micro Sales Agents programme, she discreetly operated a business from home, achieving financial independence and supporting herself despite her restrictive situation.

“She’s not alone. Many women, especially in Northern Nigeria, are silently battling financial dependency due to marital or cultural constraints. This programme gives them a chance to stand on their own feet,” Onyemaobi affirmed.

Building on its domestic success, Pad-Up Creations Limited extended the programme to Ghana in February 2025. At the Prampram Technical Institute, the company provided training on menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and business management to local women and girls. Additionally, 1,500 sanitary pads were donated free of charge to schoolgirls to promote menstrual health awareness.

In total, over 1,000 starter kits worth more than ?55 million have been distributed on credit, enabling women to kickstart their businesses.

Pad-Up’s commitment extends beyond product supply. Each woman participating in the programme receives comprehensive training in three crucial areas: character, capacity, and capital. They learn the importance of integrity in handling customers’ money, develop skills to manage and grow demand for products, and acquire financial discipline to reinvest profits rather than spending all earnings on daily needs.

While acknowledging that some agents may default on payments or misuse the opportunity, Mrs. Onyemaobi remains focused on the positive outcomes. “It’s not perfect. Some people fail, but we focus on those who succeed. When we see their success stories, it pushes us to keep going,” she added. Many agents have achieved remarkable success, with some earning as much as ?600,000 in turnover from humble beginnings.

Through the Micro Sales Agents initiative, Pad-Up Creations Limited demonstrates that sustainable business practices can effectively align with social impact. As the company continues to expand across Nigeria and internationally, it remains steadfast in its core mission: empowering women, promoting menstrual health, and ensuring access to affordable, reusable hygiene products for every community.