By Palma Ileye
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has called for urgent and collective efforts towards eliminating period poverty, maintaining menstrual hygiene saying, “Let us rise with knowledge in our hands, with empathy in our hearts, and with purpose in our steps to build a nation where every girl bleeds with dignity, not with disgrace.”
Delivering an address to mark the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, “Like the rhythm of the moon above and the flow of rivers below, menstruation is nature’s silent song, ancient, enduring, and powerful.
“Today, as we gather to commemorate the 2025 World Menstrual Hygiene Day, we lend our voices to a global movement that is reshaping silence into strength, and stigma into dignity.”
She stated that the observance of Menstrual Hygiene Day, initiated in 2014 by WASH United with the support of over 270 global partners, continues to gain momentum as a platform to normalize menstruation and amplify the critical need for menstrual hygiene.
She said, “This annual event highlights the importance of safe, informed, and stigma-free menstrual management, a necessity, not a privilege.”
Speaking on the theme for this year, “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld,” she said was both timely and profound adding that, “A period-friendly world is not just a dream, it is a right and a requisite for gender equality, inclusive development, and the overall well-being of our girls and women. It means ensuring access to information, services, products, and environments that allow women and girls to live their lives fully, without interruption or shame.”
She said that the Ministry of Women Affairs, mandated to safeguard the rights and dignity of women and girls, is proud to stand at the forefront of this movement.
“This Day is more than an annual event; it is a clarion call to action. It offers us the opportunity to raise awareness, challenge taboos, educate communities, and advocate for policy and infrastructure that support menstrual health and hygiene management, MHHM.
“I am especially pleased to commemorate this day alongside members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC; the nation’s vibrant torchbearers and changemakers. Your energy, innovation, and service in communities across Nigeria are instrumental in reshaping perceptions, breaking down harmful myths, and building a more inclusive society.
“Let me be clear, menstrual health is not just a women’s issue. It is a public health concern, a matter of human rights, and a national development imperative. The challenges faced by millions of Nigerian girls and women, including limited access to affordable menstrual products, inadequate WASH facilities, and persistent stigma are barriers that demand a united and urgent response,” she said.
She explained, “This is why the Ministry of Women Affairs has elevated and will continue to champion menstrual health and the fight against period poverty to a national priority. Our strategic interventions include: Advocacy for the National Policy and Strategic Framework on MHHM; Campaigns for the establishment of pad banks in workplaces and public institutions; Advocacy for menstrual equity across states and communities; Collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Health, and Water Resources to mainstream menstrual hygiene education; Support for the production of affordable and reusable sanitary products; Development of Information, Education, and Communication, IEC, materials on menstrual health; and Promotion of youth-led advocacy and peer education through platforms like the NYSC.”
However, she said that the Ministry of Women Affairs cannot walk this path alone.
She added, “Achieving a period-friendly Nigeria requires whole-of-government and whole-of-society collaboration; involving MDAs, CSOs, development partners, and the private sector. It requires commitment to ensuring that every school, every workplace, and every community has the infrastructure and awareness needed to support menstrual dignity.
“Our Corps members, with your reach into classrooms, clinics, and communities, have a vital role to play in normalizing conversations around menstruation, driving advocacy, and promoting positive behavioral change. I urge each of you to become champions of menstrual hygiene education in your places of primary assignment, advocate for better WASH facilities, foster open dialogue among peers, and encourage community-led solutions.
“In this regard, I am pleased to inform you that the Ministry will host the National Summit on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, bringing together key stakeholders to design scalable and sustainable solutions to end period poverty in Nigeria.
“We will continue to work closely with our partners; including NYSC, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector; to make menstrual equity and justice not just a policy aspiration, but a lived reality for every Nigerian girl and woman.
“Together, we can and must build a #PeriodFriendlyNigeria, where no girl skips school, no woman loses productivity, and no individual feels shame because of menstruation.
“As we prepare to unveil the Training Manual and Facilitator’s Guide on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, developed by Population Services International, let us remember: menstruation is not a curse, nor a crime; it is a crown that women wear with courage.”
