Peter Egwuatu

In a bold step towards ending period poverty and breaking taboos around menstruation, Nigeria has held its first-ever Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHHM) Nigeria Summit in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FTC).

Held under the theme “Empowering Lives, Breaking Barriers, and Building Dignity”,
the summit, brought together over 350 delegates from across government ministries, civil society organisations, international development partners, academic institutions, grassroots advocates, and young women and girls.

“ Organized by A Well-Informed Adolescent (AWA) Initiative, Wonder Woman Nigeria, and Alora Reusable Pads, with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs as Chief Host, the summit served as a national platform to align policy, innovation, research and advocacy toward ensuring menstrual health becomes a right—not a privilege.”, according to a Statement by the MHHM Summit Communications Lead, Shakirah Alaga.

Director of the Child Development Department at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Ali Andrew Madugu, who
represented the Honourable Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that the
Summit was a proof of readiness from awareness to action as menstural health “is not a health issue but a justice issue “.

The event featured powerful panels, including a Girls’ Focus Session, where young girls shared
personal experiences of stigma, lack of access to products, and exclusion. They called on government officials to ensure safe, inclusive, and affordable menstrual care in schools and communities.

A parallel Partner Solutions Session saw organizations like MSI Nigeria, Femme Health Africa, and Alora Reusable Pads proposed innovative approaches to National standardization of product distribution, waste management, and digital advocacy.

“ Finalisation and launch of Nigeria’s first National MHH Policy by Q4 2025,
integration of menstrual health into gender-responsive budgeting frameworks, support for local production of reusable menstrual products, commitment
to youth-led pad banks, national menstrual data collection, and disability-inclusive product certification were among the major issues that dominated the Summit. The event closed with a shared pledge: to normalize menstruation, eliminate period shame and ensure that no girl is left behind because of her period.”, stated Alaga.
She explained that WaterAid Nigeria reaffirmed commitment to menstrual equity and announced new projects focused on policy support, infrastructure and product access.
The summit closed with a shared pledge: to normalize menstruation, eliminate period shame,and ensure that no girl is left behind because of her period. Goodwill messages were delivered by key ministries, including Health, Education, Water Resources, and Budget and National Planning. Development partners such as GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Plan Nigeria, MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women.